Little Chinese Man- SOLVED

[Bigcypresshunter]

This looks like a little chinese man carved out of ivory or shell. Is this some kind of game piece?

 

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[Southcacalaky]

Re: Little Chinese Man

Definately some sort of game piece, Possibly Ivory, alabaster, bone or cheap plastic made to look like on of these, HH Art...

 

[Snee]

Re: Little Chinese Man

You can tell instantly if it's ivory. Ivory has rings, just like trees. I don't know what it is though...

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Little Chinese Man

It's hard to see because it is so small. It has rings. It also has a slight curve to it.

 

[stoney56]

Re: Little Chinese Man

Either a fancy chess piece or a weird version of Chinese Checkers.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Little Chinese Man

As much as I can remember, this came from some type of antique or vintage game with many other little hand carved pieces of the same. Thats all I can remember. Its not plastic. Can anyone tell me the name of the game?

 

[traderoftreasures]

Re: Little Chinese Man

maybe japanese

 

[Rasputin]

Re: Little Chinese Man

I was thinking a piece from a Mahjong set, but those are shaped more like dominoes. There are Japanese and Korean versions of Mahjong--perhaps from one of those sets? It does look like some kind of game piece.

 

[timekiller]

Re: Little Chinese Man

Looks like soapstone,and a samuria warrior,and I say chess piece.I see hundred of them when googled. Might also be polyresin.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Little Chinese Man

Looks like soapstone,and a samuria warrior,and I say chess piece.I see hundred of them when googled. Might also be polyresin.

You found a match? Can you post the pic or link please?

 

[timekiller]

Re: Little Chinese Man

Looks like soapstone,and a samuria warrior,and I say chess piece.I see hundred of them when googled. Might also be polyresin.

You found a match? Can you post the pic or link please?

I didn't look for the exact one.But when I typed SMALL CHINESE SOAPSTONE SAMURIA PAWN PIECE the screen lit up with all kinds. Might be a start for you.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Little Chinese Man

Looks like soapstone,and a samuria warrior,and I say chess piece.I see hundred of them when googled. Might also be polyresin.

You found a match? Can you post the pic or link please?

I didn't look for the exact one.But when I typed SMALL CHINESE SOAPSTONE SAMURIA PAWN PIECE the screen lit up with all kinds. Might be a start for you.

Thanks Ill check. But Im sure its not modern.

I know you cant tell by the pic and I dont know how old polyresins are but I found this in an old warehouse packed full of antiques after an old man who lived there died or moved back in about 2004. The new owners were tossing everything in the trash and I was able to salvage some very nice and valuable antiques ranging from 1850-1930. I actually got a glimpse of the old and worn wooden game box but only after it was tossed into a dumpster. It didnt look like chess. There were many hands grabbing so I only managed to salvage a few of these hand carved men from the set. They seemed to be all the same.

I believe its ivory. Everything the old man collected was old. He was a pack rat living in this warehouse full of antiques. I spent the next 2 years selling what I salvaged for a nice profit. I still have many items today not sold yet. The owners blocked the scavengers when they realized what they were tossing. They sold the remaining contents for a quick $5000 and it was worth much more.

I was only able to pocket several of these ivory men. There were much more cool items to salvage and the dumpster was being mobbed. I was just curious as to what kind of game it was that was tossed in the trash back in that once in a lifetime dumpster dive back in 2004...

 

[timekiller]

Re: Little Chinese Man

Looks like soapstone,and a samuria warrior,and I say chess piece.I see hundred of them when googled. Might also be polyresin.

You found a match? Can you post the pic or link please?

I didn't look for the exact one.But when I typed SMALL CHINESE SOAPSTONE SAMURIA PAWN PIECE the screen lit up with all kinds. Might be a start for you.

Thanks Ill check. But Im sure its not modern.

I know you cant tell by the pic and I dont know how old polyresins are but I found this in an old warehouse packed full of antiques after an old man who lived there died or moved back in about 2004. The new owners were tossing everything in the trash and I was able to salvage some very nice and valuable antiques ranging from 1850-1930. I actually got a glimpse of the old and worn wooden game box but only after it was tossed into a dumpster. I savaged a few of these hand carved men. They seemed to be all the same.

I believe its ivory. Everything the old man collected was old. He was a pack rat living in this warehouse full of antiques. I spent the 2 years selling what I salvaged for a nice profit. I still have many items today not sold yet. The owners blocked the scavengers when they realized what they were tossing. They sold the remaining contents for a quick $5000 and it was worth much more.

I was only able to pocket several of these ivory men. There were much more cool items to salvage and the dumpster was being mobbed. I was just curious as to what kind of game it was that was tossed in the trash back in that once in a lifetime dumpster dive back in 2004...

I tried looking up antique chess pieces and purdy much showed the same items.I thought it might have a little age on it.I tried chinese soapstone cause I know they like to carve it over there.But the figure looks to me like a japanese samuria warrior I feel good about calling it a chess piece though.But it's your call BCH.It could be something else but not sure what. To bad you couldn't get the other things being thrown out.
Take Care,
Pete

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Little Chinese Man

To bad you couldn't get the other things being thrown out.
Take Care,
Pete

Yes its too bad. I keep thinking I should have bought the dumpster. I should have rented the warehouse with everything in it! It was a find of a llifetime for sure. I still possess many of the items that I found that day, way too many to post. Im a dumpster diver from way back and this was one of the best. I have boxes and buckets full of this stuff in my warehouse. (I love to collect crap)

Heres a quick example of one handful of items that I grabbed from that dumpster that day, minus a few Stanley ivory rules. I need to sell this stuff on eBay.

As far as the Chinese man, it could be chess I suppose but I dont remember the game board looking like chess. Im also not sure if the little man will even stand up on its own. Its got a curve to it, maybe from the ivory it was cut. Ill try and find it for better pics if needed..

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Little Chinese Man

I was thinking a piece from a Mahjong set, but those are shaped more like dominoes. There are Japanese and Korean versions of Mahjong--perhaps from one of those sets? It does look like some kind of game piece.

thanks. I check into it.

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: Little Chinese Man

karate kid

 

[trikikiwi]

Re: Little Chinese Man

Interesting piece BigCy
IMO, your item appears to have a 'mass produced' look - understandable if it's a pawn and you're making a chess set
You mentioned there were many of the same figure - are some a different shade/colour?

There is a science to determining what material it is; ivory, bone, plastic.


http://www.asianartmall.com/synthetic-ivory.htm

Here's the 'Home' address http://www.asianartmall.com/refivory.htm
I love this line
Patches of dark spots and/or canals are generally easy to spot and resemble Dad's face at bedtime or Saturday afternoon

Hope this helps with the ID.
Mike

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Little Chinese Man

Apparently the pics do not do it justice lol. It looks like plastic in the pic. It may not be ivory but its without any doubt hand carved. I can see the knife marks. Its no biggie I just thought someone may recognize it.

Thanks for the link Mike. There was no king, queen, rooks , knights or bishops. Only these little men, all similar and I only saved a couple. I am looking for it. (the thread is old). I realize now that this thread is useless without better pictures... sorry..

 

[Tnmountains]

Re: Little Chinese Man

I have a few of those old lufkins and rulers. Pretty neat. You selling them??


On the item in question. I do not feel it is Netsuke or Sagemono styles as i have played with those. Could you stand it up on its base? Once we I.D it do we need to find out who carved it and.. find another like it.

 

[IronSpike]

Re: Little Chinese Man

Looks like soapstone,and a samuria warrior,and I say chess piece.I see hundred of them when googled. Might also be polyresin.

I agree on pawn chess piece, however think it's ivory:

http://www.rubylane.com/item/566555-31326/Highly-Detailed-32pc-Chinese-Carved