Stone carving

[wondering]

This piece of carving has been around my grandparents house my whole life and now has made it to me. I haven't the foggiest what it is. I think the stone is Jasper, although I am unsure. It is very well carved and quite involved. There are two wells one on the top and one on the bottom, it has often been guessed that it is an ink well and quill holder. There are no artist marks that i can find , however on the bottom the tool marks are clear. It is hand carved.

 

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[Micky]

Would think if it was an ink well, it would have a cover? IDK, first thought, without was a candle stick holder.

 

[tamrock]

I've seen those at times in antique shops. It seems the older they are the more detail in the carving. The stone is red, but most of stone these items are carved from are an Alabaster stone, as it is a softer rock. It can be found in pure white like marble to grey in color and red from what I've seen. I Google searches red alabaster carvings and do come up with all kinds of sculptures made from that stone. To me Jasper is a stone high in silica that many stone artifacts are found made from by flint napping and would be only carved to shape by another much harder material like a diamond rotary tool bit. Alabaster could be carved with a common 6 penny nail. It is Asian I believe and I'm thinking very late 19 century to early 20th century as to when it was made. I can't say if it's Japanese or Chinese in origin, but I do believe it's one of those 2. Inkwell would be my guess for what it was used for.

 

[ipsilateral]

It's a Chinese piece. Basically a mass market tourist made vase. Made from a soft stone like alabaster or soapstone. These are currently retailing around $15-$20.