Anyone have any idea?

[RobKruzan]

Hello,
I am curious but doubtful if anyone can help me figure out what this is and how old it is I found it arrowhead hunting on the Illinois River bank when I was hunting arrowheads,I live not even 80 yards away from the river and have always hunted the river bank since I was 15 I am 26 now and this is the only one I have ever found.Thanks for any help

 

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[pippinwhitepaws]

when i first read the description...and saw the piece...oh, she is Mayan...but then...Illinois is a bit far from meso...soooo Hopewell Adena...right? nope...natives did not cast clay....i don't think...this piece has clear cast marks... so i have spent many fine hours searching everything...no clue...

but i have an idea...it is the right size to be a decoration for a pull switch...i bet the end of a dogtag chain fits right in there nice an snug...so i am thinking a decoration for the pull switch of a ceiling fan in a bordello?

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

when i first read the description...and saw the piece...oh, she is Mayan...but then...Illinois is a bit far from meso...soooo Hopewell Adena...right? nope...natives did not cast clay....i don't think...this piece has clear cast marks... so i have spent many fine hours searching everything...no clue...

but i have an idea...it is the right size to be a decoration for a pull switch...i bet the end of a dogtag chain fits right in there nice an snug...so i am thinking a decoration for the pull switch of a ceiling fan in a bordello?

I think it does have casting marks. (lines up the side) Is this true Rob? This would mean its not Indian.

 

[CoolFrayers]

when i first read the description...and saw the piece...oh, she is Mayan...but then...Illinois is a bit far from meso...soooo Hopewell Adena...right? nope...natives did not cast clay....i don't think...this piece has clear cast marks... so i have spent many fine hours searching everything...no clue...

but i have an idea...it is the right size to be a decoration for a pull switch...i bet the end of a dogtag chain fits right in there nice an snug...so i am thinking a decoration for the pull switch of a ceiling fan in a bordello?

I think it does have casting marks. (lines up the side) Is this true Rob? This would mean its not Indian.

I was thinking the exact same thing. It looks as if the sides do have casting marks.
Does it appear to you that those are distinct lines on either side of the piece? If they are, this is not as old as I hoped for you.

 

[pippinwhitepaws]

it is a fantastic little piece...trade goods?
it has a wear pattern that makes me believe someone touched it often...could it be a pendant? missing the insert to hang it?

 

[rammjäger]

If that hole could hold a stick of incense maybe it could be a holder for that purpose. Sure does look very, very old.

Hi,
I thought that too.
MfG.
Mike

 

[RobKruzan]

Hello,
There is a couple differnt reason I dont think this is a cast one being that both sides are not exactly the same but im not sure how old cast worked also at the bottom you can see where it had been messed with when it was still wet.I am not saying it isnt a cast but in my opinion it still is 1800's.I dont think its a celing fan switch, incense holder is very possible.

 

[rammjäger]

If that hole could hold a stick of incense maybe it could be a holder for that purpose. Sure does look very, very old.

Hi,
I thought that too.
MfG.
Mike

Incense holder for chinese inmigrants perhaps?

 

[DCMatt]

I'm still thinking crude "doll head". The hole in the top would be to attach hair.

Check out these dolls:

http://www.rubylane.com/ni/shops/sharingmydollsnstuff/iteml/1164#pic1

DCMatt

 

[Alchemy]

Hi all...

I was looking at the closeup of this item and saw that the inside of the hole doesn't reflect that it was carved or bored out....
The inside would be "smooth" if bored out.

On the inside of this, it shows a roughness, not like it was filled in with dirt or anything either.
So, we know it wasn't carved.

I'm wondering if it wasn't a piece from a necklace or something like that, strung on twine, sinew or whatever...

I've found clay beads that were quite large and the insides of the hole were pretty much like this piece. They were hand made from a pottery type material

 

[lostcauses]

I'm still thinking crude "doll head". The hole in the top would be to attach hair.

Check out these dolls:

http://www.rubylane.com/ni/shops/sharingmydollsnstuff/iteml/1164#pic1

DCMatt

Red clay,1870s through 1920s, doll or pincushion center. Yes I believe you have it..

 

[taz42o]

I think it looks like a small vase or pitcher if flipped over. maybe small decoration that was attached to a bigger piece . If that is a head Id hate to see the ugly creature it was modeled after.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I think it looks like a small vase or pitcher if flipped over. maybe small decoration that was attached to a bigger piece . If that is a head Id hate to see the ugly creature it was modeled after.

Speaking of ugly, check out this ring found at a CW site by a member. I know its not a match but it kinda reminded me of this. What the heck are these ugly things.

 

[JakefaePa]

My brother brought me something similar from Thailand years ago.It was brass and about that size , same idea of a face/head on a pedestal thing , very similar indeed.
I believe it is something similar to that and the guys suggesting incense holder might well be correct , a sort of diety relic , something to use for worship when far from home.
In my case the small head was Buddha,that one is strange but as pointed out , if its cast forget it.