Can anyone tell me anything about this little brass crocodile???

[turtlefoot13]

Found this an a local estate sale and I don't know a thing about it. I don't think it is old, but I don't know for sure. It sort of looks like it is stylized after a character or diety or something. I forgot to put in anything for a size reference. It is around 3" long. I will get exact measurements later as I don't have a ruler handy.

Thank you for looking and I appreciate all answers.

Doug

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[Breezie]

I think it has an Asian look, perhaps from Thailand. It maybe some type of 'good luck' piece. Is this brass or painted to look like brass? Breezie

 

[duggap]

This is just a wild guess, but looking at the blunt nose on it, I was wondering if it is a smoking pipe tamp.

 

[jeff of pa]

Actually I'm not convinced it's a Gator or Croc

 

[Breezie]

Here ya go: (3rd row of pics, not exact, but very close)

http://www.beadparadise.com/oberlin_bead_store/list/ghana/20/1

Breezie

 

[jewelerguy]

maybe it's a gold idol from an ancient tomb. it's wearing a cool hat

 

[digging wv]

looks to be a gharial. A crocodilian species from India. It has that same odd looking nose. As far as the piece though......?

 

[turtlefoot13]

Thanks for all of the replies everyone! Breezie - it is not painted. It is brass or bronze as best as I can tell. Thank you for the link. It is very close.

I am not going to green check this one yet, as I am in hopes of getting a bit more info on it, but I am guessing it is a modern "tourist" type item.

Thanks again!
Doug

 

[jeff of pa]

Closest I can come up with is

Akan/ Baule Brass from Africa



http://www.africadirect.com/productsdesc.php?ID=56823

But again, I don't think it's supposed to be a
Gator or Croc.

 

[turtlefoot13]

Any ideas as to what it might be if not a croc or gator?

 

[ivan salis]

india and indonesia * are both well known - brass / bronze salt water croc (sea dragons ) makers --the dutch used to cast bronze cannons in the old sailing days (1600 /1800 era) in what is now indonesia with these types of creatures built into the cannons design to hold the tie down ropes --the brits did the same in india --both are still known for making brass trinket type items like this


might be a ring holder -- ring slips over the crocs nose --thus the upward point on the nose.

or maybe a pipe ash tamper -due to flat end of nose. --see if the end smells of tobbaco .

 

[Red-Coat]

Just tidying up some blasts from the past (including some very ancient ones), largely for the benefit of anyone searching the site for information.

I'm sure that’s an Ashanti gold weight, although it’s a modern brass reproduction of the kind now sold as touristic items in various western parts of Africa. The Ashanti are an ethnic group located principally in what is now Ghana and the country was formerly called the “Gold Coast” for a good reason. It was rich in gold and a trading centre for it, the former Ashanti Empire’s wealth being derived from it. Up until about 1900 they made weights out of bronze in various detailed figurative forms of animals (including fantasy representations), birds, fish, people and objects of nature like the one below. They were made in various sizes to accurate weights for the purpose of weighing gold.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394504382973