Help?????????????

[Dig-m-Deep]

This was bought a few months ago along with some steel crosses ... Not sure where it came from but the lady said one of her relatives brought it back from WWII..... I'm thinking Africa but friend says looks more like voodoo...any ideas?

 

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[Tuberale]

Could be Ethiopian or Coptic (early Christian) icon.

 

[Silver Searcher]

Is this piece made from Bronze, looks Medieval

SS

 

[Tuberale]

Looks to me like the black wood that clarinets and oboes are made from. Have forgotten the name.

 

[RELICDUDE07]

It could be obsidian rock .Very rare and early

 

[Breezie]

Looks to me like the black wood that clarinets and oboes are made from. Have forgotten the name.

The wood you're thinking about is Ebony.

It has an early Christian look to me too; perhaps a Priest. Very interesting; I'll do some research. Breezie

 

[Silver Searcher]

On my screen it looks to have a green tinge...like Bronze

SS

 

[Breezie]

On my screen it looks to have a green tinge...like Bronze

SS

SS, yes, it has a green tint on mine too. I guess we'll have to wait for DmD to tell us if it is wood or metal.

Breezie

 

[Dig-m-Deep]

Sorry it's stone of some kind. Only 6" tall

 

[RELICDUDE07]

This is of museum quality----------- dates from 1500 - 1522 ( spanish christianisation of the aztec) which they couldn't do so they killed them all! Relicdude apprasial co.

 

[High Plains Digger]

Good Aztec story, but I think the actual date is 1534.

Actually, when I first saw it, I though Morocco. Could be the fez or something.

 

[RELICDUDE07]

Best pic i could find..The indian chief las casas

 

[High Plains Digger]

The Steel sword doesn't bode well for Aztec. And I am not sure, but that doesn't look much like a Spanish sword, but correct me if I am wrong.

 

[RELICDUDE07]

They were depicting the spanish with the sword - (not them)....

 

[Oilfield Diver]

I will take a guess at it before doing some research. Looks to be early Christian. Notice the head on top - that will be Jesus or God. The one holding the sword is a man, the other side is a woman. Draw your on conclusions of who they represent. I won't go that far yet. The feet are interesting in that they are separated by space without any background, could represent the underworld or "hell".

 

[shaun7]

It comes from when they had one too many fingers

 

[RELICDUDE07]

I can't stop laughing! It could also be chief 6 fingers!

 

[High Plains Digger]

And the reverse (female) side goes out of the way to show that she has only 10 fingers. No arms or accoutrement's, except what is that kite or whatever by her head?

Now the rolled up paper is bothering me. Either he just "trained" the dog, or it's not Aztec. Weren't their codices (what ever the plural of codex is) narrow but very long and somewhat folded rather than rolled? Now we are back to early Christian, Jewish, and or lots of other options.

Are the red spots bits of mud or dirt, or are they (apparent) iron inclusions in the rock?

 

[Oilfield Diver]

The sword and the staff probably represents war and peace. Also notice the bottom of the sword below the palm, two circles, giving the sword a "phallic" symbolism. In regard to the "six finger" issue, there are actually five fingertips. The "artist" apparently realized his error after carving too many lines. Also, notice the maker also cut the body line (shoulder) through the sword. Additionally, the woman's thumbs are pointing in the same direction meaning her right hand would be palm in and the left hand palm out to be viewed correctly. I don't think that was the "artist's" intent as there are no palm line identifiers in the left hand. These discrepancies tells me this was no early century royal sanctioned "artist". Very early century religious icons have shown masterful and beautiful talent. My guess is folk art of some centurious vintage or a "modern" fake religious icon.