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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: galaxywomun on August 03, 2011, 12:56:14 PM

Title: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: galaxywomun on August 03, 2011, 12:56:14 PM
This is a table that was also left behind.  I thought it was witco, but I don't think it is.  Any ideas??!

http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc395/galaxywomun/carved%20table/
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: galaxywomun on August 03, 2011, 02:52:08 PM
I can't find ANYTHING like it (except witco)   What do you think???!
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: wendy177 on August 03, 2011, 04:18:53 PM
Galaxy found this drop him a line if anyone would know it would be him!!! 
My name is Burke Hovde (aka…The Witco Kid on www.tikicentral.com). I’m the son of Ron Hovde, one of the Witco Co-Founders and Artists with Bill Westenhaver.  Witco started out as Western International Trading Company and imported South Pacific home furnishing items like Capishell Lamps. They also were into carvings that eventually evolved into the rough cedar chain saw carved furniture and Tikis that most people know Witco for. The artwork and production plant was in Mt. Vernon, Washington and they eventually sold $15 million worth of Witco products throughout the world over a 10 year run in the 1970′s. Through my Ebay Storefront at “intertrader2005″ you can purchase a book on “Fun and Profitable Chainsaw Carving” that Ron Hovde and Bill Westenhaver published under their company Westho (i.e. Westenhaver/Hovde) after Witco shut down. If I can answer any other questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at hovdeinternational@hotmail.com


 
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: galaxywomun on August 03, 2011, 06:03:01 PM
I have been on the tiki forums, they say it's not witco.  BUT it could be one of their imports???  i can't even find any contemporary south asian imported furniture.  help!!  i have looked up tribal folk art.  i think it could have been here with the chair, so original to the house in the 1920s.
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: galaxywomun on August 03, 2011, 06:47:39 PM
what god/mask would have ears.  would that help??
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: galaxywomun on August 03, 2011, 06:52:37 PM
BTW, Burke Hovde got back to me and said it wasn't witco, but it could be an item they imported (??!)  but he didn't know for sure.  i gave him as much information as possible, and in the meantime i am scouring the internets.   :D
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: waywardangler on August 03, 2011, 07:35:26 PM
Try Indonesia.
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: galaxywomun on August 03, 2011, 09:14:16 PM
I am going to call it folk art, and have someone determine the age.  I can't find anything like it.  Maybe you will see me on antiques roadshow!!
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: mart on August 04, 2011, 05:17:12 AM
Well,, its certainly different !!  Have no clue on this one !!
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: waywardangler on August 04, 2011, 06:26:17 AM
I do not think it qualifies as folk art and I would definitely not bring it to an Antiques Roadshow. JMO.

The type of wood needs to be determined and that may help you find its origin.
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: KC on August 04, 2011, 04:56:45 PM
I would like to see a better close up of the faces.  I can't get them to enlarge!  If possible, please post.
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: galaxywomun on August 04, 2011, 05:03:34 PM
Aw man, my 'tech' support aka husband is at work tonight.  i can post tomorrow....
did you read my post on the savonorala chair one??  first off, thank you sooo much!!  the chair and table were found together.  maybe it was mass produced in mexico in the 1920s too??  now i am thinking this furniture was the furniture of the original owners of the house, it was built in the 1920s.  ANYWAY, I can't find any info on the table, ANYWHERE!!  : )
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: KC on August 04, 2011, 05:22:40 PM
Know that feeling!  So many times have to have my techie son help me out!  LOL

When you get a chance take a couple pics without the flash in a well lit room as well (preferably natural light). 
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: galaxywomun on August 04, 2011, 05:41:31 PM
i found this guy, what do you think??

http://cgi.ebay.com/HUGE-Vintage-MEXICAN-Folk-Carved-Obsidian-Art-Sculpture-/180702395117?pt=Art_Sculpture&hash=item2a12b3baed#ht_10270wt_1270
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: galaxywomun on August 04, 2011, 07:28:16 PM
KC--this shows a closer up image of the face. 

http://forums.ebay.com/db2/topic/Antiques/Tribal-Table/5200014653#1312507043266
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: galaxywomun on August 04, 2011, 08:42:31 PM
finding SOME information when searching "primitive wood carvings" but still no idea on what region. 
Title: RE: Tribal Table
Post by: galaxywomun on August 04, 2011, 10:18:22 PM
Here is a message I received from a comparative religious studies expert

I would only be guessing but they look like Polynesian tiki gods to me. One reason I'm thinking this is their noses. Noses tend to be signs of virility (hence more phallic and protruding) but among the Polynesian tiki gods they are usually depicted flat (even if elongated).


what do you think??
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: galaxywomun on August 05, 2011, 10:05:48 AM
This seems to be the best answer.  Indonesia was right!!  Two points : )


So, I really need a photo of the underneath.  Based on these pix, and your comment that it is pretty lightweight, I am guessing it is of Asian or Indonesian origin; 20th C; probably Teak or some other tropical hardwood (not mahogany).  It probably has a value of a couple hundred dollars.

Photos of the underside, and a history of the piece will help me confirm this.
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: KC on August 05, 2011, 03:20:58 PM
This looks to me like items that have come out of Mexico/S America in the early 90's.  Don't see them as often as used to...people love them and hold on to them.  However, they were made in mass and not a high demand item.  Definitely a great conversation piece.
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: mart on August 05, 2011, 04:02:13 PM
Might be easy to sell if you knew of someone that was putting a Tiki Bar in their basement !!  LOL  Might not be worth a lot of money but sure is interesting !!
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: KC on August 05, 2011, 10:27:51 PM
Here's some of the Olmec civilization/Mexico - flat noses and large lips!
http://www.aztec-history.com/olmec-civilization.html (http://www.aztec-history.com/olmec-civilization.html)
http://www.crystalinks.com/olmec.html (http://www.crystalinks.com/olmec.html)
(http://www.crystalinks.com/olmecheadpedestal.jpg)

and this is one example of Aztec which is most commonly carved
(http://www.girr.org/vacation_diaries/mexico_panama_2006/aztec_figure.jpg)
Title: Re: OK, another one!! Weird, left by previous owners...
Post by: galaxywomun on August 06, 2011, 05:54:47 PM
someone is interested in the table and/or chair!  i think i'm gonna sell them.  i dunno, though.  i kinda like the table.  found out it isn't really an antique anyway.