🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Unknown Vase

[Cariboo5]

Just got this vase from a Nova Scotia auction. I'm not sure what type of mythology character the face is and appears that there may be two other faces above the main one.
Not sure of the material this is made of but it does appear that it could have some age to it. Mark on bottom is also unknown. All thoughts & opinions welcome. Thanks to all .....

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Treasure of Victoria Peak - Grab it through Amazon!

[TORRERO]

That is creepy as shit ... no idea ..

 

[EnvoyToTheMolePeople]

Just got this vase from a Nova Scotia auction. I'm not sure what type of mythology character the face is and appears that there may be two other faces above the main one.
Not sure of the material this is made of but it does appear that it could have some age to it. Mark on bottom is also unknown. All thoughts & opinions welcome. Thanks to all .....

That sure is strange looking. Let me ask around. As a side note, did you try a reverse google search?

 

[Cariboo5]

Hey TORRERO you are right as it certainly is and with the possible two other faces makes this a mystery.

EnvoyTOTheMolePeople i did try so many things and so far nothing, appreciate you asking around...

 

[Joecoins]

Heres one direction to look in
A young satyr,
A Bacchus vase / young bacchus
Not ancient with number marking like that
Very cool, I think it quite phenomenal when faces appear in patina on old peices.
Seems small.
A "special" potion bottle?

 

[Cariboo5]

I did compare a few Greek mythology characters and those two just did not fit the bill..
Joecoins I agree 100% with your comments:
"Very cool, I think it quite phenomenal when faces appear in patina on old pieces.
Seems small.
A "special" potion bottle?"

For me not only that but the shape on the front side is something I have never seen before as it is quite unusual.
I will follow up with your "potion bottle" as one just never knows...

Another thought as this comes from Nova Scotia as that is where the show "Curse Of Oak Island" is and they are finding old items, relics from the 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th centuries... My question: Could this be that old?

 

[Joecoins]

Why don't they fit? I almost see a beard.
If it is a young bacchus it would make sense for the smaller horns. A satyr might have they pointy ears as depicted.
I would like better photos of the extra faces you see.

And I heard this once "there is something special to be said about an object that can be admired in the palm of the hand"
Maybe take a photo holding it the give a better perspective of size ,would be cool.

With the markings on it I doubt it is that old. But it could still prove more valuable if the markings help determine maker.

 

[Joecoins]

I saw these cool things researching your peice...





It is the imagery that I found similar not so much the form or use

 

[Tony in SC]

My wife and I were detecting an extreme low tide along the pier at Tybee Island GA. at night. She found a vase/urn about that shape and size. It had a yellow scarf with ashes inside. I wasted no time trying to figure out if it was someone's pet or uncle Charlie!! I chunked it out into the water as far as I could. Just saying?

 

[tamrock]

It's hard to figure out ceramics sometimes, because so many people took on the art of it and not all of them have been documented. It does look like the mark on the bottom was scratched into it after it was fired instead of before. Also those straight grinding marks on the base makes me think it was done with a belt sander to make it flat and smooth. Hopefully someone will nail down more info on it.

 

[Bucket Lister]

I agree it looks like a Bacchus (drinking?) vase.

However, about the additional faces...
Sorry, but I'm not seeing it. Pareidolia?
If you do an image search of Bacchus vases, most--if not all--have a single face only.

I also think any additional figures would be in relief like the main figure.

The mark on the bottom looks (to me) like either an inventory number or catalog number from someone's collection.

I am curious about the purpose of the two indentations on the front of the vase that do not appear on the back.

 

[Cariboo5]

All great thoughts & questions and will answer in order...

Joecoins - I have not been able to find a exact match to the face so far and as mentioned I just got this so at this time I am unable to take good close up pictures which I will do when received. I also heard "good things come in small packages" and you are right as the marker will probably play a big part.

Tony in SC - Yes I can relate to that ...

tamrock - I am also puzzled about the scratch marks and crack on the bottom, was thinking could this be wood?

Bucket Lister - You have a good point about mark being in someones collection as way back especially the Chinese the collector would apply their stamp to a piece of art and yes that is what really made this little vase outstanding to me is the unusual shape especially on the front side with the indents which I have never seen before and so far have not been able to find other examples.. Thanks to all for your comments & keep them coming ....

 

[TORRERO]

I agree it looks like a Bacchus (drinking?) vase.

However, about the additional faces...
Sorry, but I'm not seeing it. Pareidolia?
If you do an image search of Bacchus vases, most--if not all--have a single face only.

I also think any additional figures would be in relief like the main figure.

The mark on the bottom looks (to me) like either an inventory number or catalog number from someone's collection.

I am curious about the purpose of the two indentations on the front of the vase that do not appear on the back.

The mark on the bottom looks (to me) like either an inventory number or catalog number from someone's collection.

Looks kinda like an auction mark, although I'm not convinced an auction would inscribe something like that..

 

[Bucket Lister]

Looks kinda like an auction mark, although I'm not convinced an auction would inscribe something like that..

IME, auction houses use removable tags/stickers, whereas collectors want a more permanent mark to help identify/prove ownership. YMMV. 🙂

 

[Robot]

Hi Cariboo5
I believe the clue you gave was "found in Nova Scotia".
My opnion is this is a Jamaican African Vodoo Potion Vase of Papa Legba.

Papa Legba - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Now one may ask..."What would African Vodoo have to do with Nova Scotia.
This was a facinating story that in 1796 some prominate owners of "Oak Island"...Yes!..."The Curse of Oak Island"...Jonathan Prescott arranged to bring 500 Black Slaves to Acadia to live as freemen.
This failed misaberly as these immigrants could not survive the bitter winters and requested to be returned.

A monument for the Maroons

Halifax lacks a proper memorial for the people of African descent who helped build it.

activehistory.ca

 

[Joecoins]

I don't get any voodoo vibes from it,
Notice the bottle shape compared to the last two pics

 

[Cariboo5]

Robot .. very interesting and certainly an avenue that I will follow up with as after I receive the vase I will contact museums in Nova Scotia regarding black Nova Scotians as you mentioned and see what they may know or be able to point me in the right direction.

As Joecoins said I also do not get any voodoo vibes however the black history in Nova Scotia may be very promising.
Appreciate the comments ....