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I inherited this wood carving from my mother. In the mid-1950s she was given it as a gift by a Japanese friend when we lived in Hayama, Japan near the Emperor's summer palace. The pictures include a six inch ruler for scale. What can any of you tell me about it?
Thanks, John
Hi John,
I believe based on your pictures that the wood carving is Chinese and not Japanese and would most likely date to late qing period.
A lovely example.
Not sure what type of wood it is? It could be rosewood.
Mark
Mark,
Thanks for your response. Using the qualifiers you provided and google, I found carvings of similar size and shape made of bamboo. I had thought the interior ribs visible in the third and fourth photo from the top of my posting might be an artifact of bamboo. Possible with rosewood?
In the online images, although there were similarities with some of the smaller features found in the carving in my post, I found nothing that had the tusk shape and the general shape and feel of the open spaces as shown in my post (at least to my sensibilities).
Any suggestions as to how to go about getting help further identifying it, getting it appraised, and possibly selling it?
Thanks, John
Hi John,
Since the pics are small and not heavily detailed it is possibly that it is made from bamboo and then dyed.
From the bottom it appears to be bamboo, but this could also be made from rosewood to resemble bamboo.
I know it's confusing. It is too difficult to define from your said pictures.
As for appraisal I can only recommend that you go to a auction house like christies etc and see what they say. Short of that you could try a recognised antique dealer who primarily deals in asian antiques and see what they say. Or better still wait until someone else gives their opinion as too its age and material (I would heed this advice on the forum. There are a number of very highly skilled collectors/dealers who will give you a honest answer).
Are there any marks/calligraphy on said item?
Do you currently have a ebay account?
Whereabouts are you located?
BTW welcome to the forum!
Mark
It looks like bamboo - those interior ridges would be hard to copy in wood, and the bottom has a very distinctive texture , almost like leather or skin, which is typical of bamboo. you should be able to tell from the weight, bamboo will be lighter than hardwood.
It has a very good-looking natural patina , so I would say it has plenty of age.
tam
Thank you for the continued comments and questions, particularly encouragement to allow time for the collective intelligence and knowledge of this forum to function.
Much higher resolution versions of these pictures are on Flickr under the (likely incorrect) title "Japanese Wood Carving" found at:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/158900371@N07/aE09P5
Once there, click on any picture to see higher resolution versions; click on the picture again for a yet higher resolution view.
Responding to your questions:
Mark:
I have not discerned any marks or calligraphy on the carving. If such marks can be subtle, or sometimes placed in hard to see places, it may be I don't know what to look for.
I do not have an ebay account. If I did, how might I use it?
I'm in the Rochester, NY area.
Tam,
The weight of the piece is about 10 ounces (270 grams). I have no way to calculate the density of the wood. Someone familiar with the heft of various woods could tell more than I can. Perhaps the higher resolutions photos (see the Flickr link, above), particularly picture 5, might provide more evidence for the wood type.
-John
Correction: The weight of the carving is 14 ounces (378 grams)... not 10 ounces (270 grams) as stated in my previous reply.
-John
Hi John. I've had one of these before. Definitely bamboo. I sold mine on ebay a couple of years ago described as Chinese and dating from the early 1900's. From memory it made around £200. J
Hi John,
If you a ebay account you can then put it up for sale, either by auction (with or without reserve) or 'buy now'.
I would have interest. If you look at my profile you will find a link to myself.
Mark
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