Anyone know what this could be?

[Devine52780]

My husband found this around Lake Providence La....It looks like it could be a ring but I haven't been able to find anything like it...if anyone knows what it is please let me know...Thanks

 

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[digging440yrs]

WOW, is it a type of metal or is it clay ? looks egyptian by the pics----you will get some good answers on here--nice find

 

[Devine52780]

It's made of clay...I figure its Indian.

 

[Devine52780]

Here is a few more pics...the hole in it is the size of a nickel.

 

[digging440yrs]

AWESOME----OUT OF MY LEAGUE---GOOD LUCK WITH IT---TOM

 

[coin1921]

Nice find, could it be a napkin ring. I have seen napkin rings at craft show made from clay.

 

[Gunrunner61]

I've heard it said that the Mayan, or Incas moved up into the gulf coast area of the U.S.
I'm not a scientist, But I have read about this. Maybe one of there rings...............
.....................HH

 

[Kieth-Tx]

Looks African to me. Lots of slave trading there in the 1800's.

 

[Breezie]

Since it was found in Louisiana, and it is made of clay with Haitian and African overtones, I think it could be a Voo Doo ring. There are some Voo Doo dolls with clay heads and/or clay bodies. The front of the head/face is very well sculptured, but the ring portion and ring attachment is crudely made. This could mean the head was used as a Voo Doo head, then later the clay ring was attached. It doesn't appear to me the same person made the ring portion as sculptured the head. Most interesting find Breezie

WELCOME to the forum!

I've had some other thoughts about this piece. Looking at the front/head, the lines are almost too exact and done with precision to be handmade. Look at the lines in the feathers, hair/forehead, eyebrows,etc. All of these are well defined and straight. I'm thinking now the head could have been machine made, and the clay ring added.

I also wanted to ask if there were any holes in it? I didn't see any, but thought if there were holes, it could be a whistle/ocarina.

 

[CoilyGirl]

Whatever it is its cool!

 

[Devine52780]

Thanks for all the replays...Breezie now that you have said something about the ring part being added after the head I had to take a closer look at it and that is a very good possibility because the ring part was broken behind the heads right ear when he found it. I doubt it's machine made because my husband found this about 30yrs ago and never looked into what it was...it's been sitting in our display case with all the other artifacts. I found this sight and was hoping someone would know more about it than me...any information is greatly appreciated.

 

[Archeodeb]

Since it was found in Louisiana, and it is made of clay with Haitian and African overtones, I think it could be a Voo Doo ring. There are some Voo Doo dolls with clay heads and/or clay bodies. The front of the head/face is very well sculptured, but the ring portion and ring attachment is crudely made. This could mean the head was used as a Voo Doo head, then later the clay ring was attached. It doesn't appear to me the same person made the ring portion as sculptured the head. Most interesting find Breezie

WELCOME to the forum!

I've had some other thoughts about this piece. Looking at the front/head, the lines are almost too exact and done with precision to be handmade. Look at the lines in the feathers, hair/forehead, eyebrows,etc. All of these are well defined and straight. I'm thinking now the head could have been machine made, and the clay ring added.

I also wanted to ask if there were any holes in it? I didn't see any, but thought if there were holes, it could be a whistle/ocarina.

I'm pretty sure this was hand-made. (And not particularly well at that. Sorry to dispute the machine-made theory, Breezie, but any decent sculptor could make one of these in about 15 minutes with much more precision than this. I am an artist among other things, so I know that it is easily possible.)

You could be right about the band being added later, but my thought is that it was just clumsily done because it would not show very much when in use. The clay appears to be the same type -- with a high percentage of what looks like shell grog, (which would make sense near an ocean if it was locally made) and you can see the tool marks where the wet clay of the band was pushed into the back of the head to attach it. If the band was added later the head would be hard and you couldn't do that. It does appear to have been broken on the right side (looking at it from the back) in two places and mended though.

I don't think it was meant to be worn on a finger (it is too wide a band -- it would keep your fingers from closing properly and be darned uncomfortable!) but it might have been a candle holder for a slim taper. That would fit along with ritual use if there was some voodoo involved. (Or even if there wasn't and you just wanted something different to hold your candles upright. ) It would explain the size of the band too because it would need a bit of weight to keep it from wanting to tip over.

 

[Breezie]

Thanks for all the replays...Breezie now that you have said something about the ring part being added after the head I had to take a closer look at it and that is a very good possibility because the ring part was broken behind the heads right ear when he found it.I doubt it's machine made because my husband found this about 30yrs ago. and never looked into what it was...it's been sitting in our display case with all the other artifacts. I found this sight and was hoping someone would know more about it than me...any information is greatly appreciated.

Does the clay on the ring portion look to be the same as the face/front?

Thirty years ago would be 1983, so that date wouldn't be a factor in determining machine vs. handmade. Actually, I should have been more clear. I didn't mean machine made as in mass produced, but I felt the front/face of it was made from a mold and not hand sculptured.

Another reason I felt like it was not so old (old meaning less than 50 yrs. old) is the fact is has no patina, plus the painted areas are still painted areas with little to no missing paint. Terracotta clay when left in the elements for a period of time, will break down and show some patina; generally a white frosty look, and even some with green patina. The ring portion of it looks like fairly new clay. Hopefully you know I am not trying to discourage you, but am trying to help gather as much information as possible to help ID it.




Breezie

 

[yaxthri]

Although I'm inclined to go with "napkin ring Mexico souvenir" found this on e-bay

Exquisite Pre Columbian Olmec Terra Cotta Ring | eBay

but I wouldn't get my hopes too high. Show it to an expert, an archaeologist or a mesoamerican art and/or antiques dealer...

 

[Archeodeb]

Although I'm inclined to go with "napkin ring Mexico souvenir" found this on e-bay

Exquisite Pre Columbian Olmec Terra Cotta Ring | eBay

but I wouldn't get my hopes too high. Show it to an expert, an archaeologist or a mesoamerican art and/or antiques dealer...

Two quick things...
1 -- That may or may not be as old as claimed -- ebay is notorious for rip-offs!
2 -- If it is as old as claimed, it does not necessarily mean this one is (and this one does NOT look old, really). Things tend to be reproduced down through the ages -- especially simple, utilitarian things with limited workable configurations. (A ring is a ring is a ring...)

 

[nsdq]

neat looking for sure hope you can figure it out

 

[Breezie]

I told myself I was not going to post again pertaining to this piece because I felt very strongly about it being made from a mold, and my idea was not too well accepted. As I told the OP, 'I'm not trying to discourage you, but am trying to help gather as much information as possible to help ID it.' Hopefully you will read this website and compare your item with the one pictured, as well as comparing it to other Pre-Columbian sculptures, and notice yours appears not as old looking as these. (Google Pre-Columbian terracotta, then click on images.) I think your item maybe a 'copy' of a Pre-Columbian piece. This is just my opinion judging by the lack of patina and the correctness of the lines as well as the smoothness of the painted areas. I would suggest you have the piece appraised and then you will know for sure. I do hope I am wrong, and I hope your piece is prior to the 1400's.


Please note this last paragraph from the website below:
Press molds were used by many pre-columbian peoples to mass produce their ceramic wares. Wet clay was pressed into ceramic molds, then removed from the the mold as the clay dried. This innovative technique was a significant change from traditional techniques of modeled or coiled pottery, allowing consistency in design and rapid production.

Here's the website:
Williams Gallery West - Artifacts - South America - Moche Monkey Figurine

 

[HutSiteDigger]

I would bring that too someone that specializes in South America or Middle east & Asia artifacts take a look at this.... I know from the history of Lake Providence that it was a fairly large stopping point for fur trappers and traders and the first settlers came from Ireland, Germany and England. It appears to be very old just from the look of the back of it could be early to mid 19th century just from the fact there is still color on the artifact.. and of course clay can stay together for 100s of years.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

OR take it too someone that is collects and is knowledgeable of Lake Providence area artifacts.

 

[Archeodeb]

I told myself I was not going to post again pertaining to this piece because I felt very strongly about it being made from a mold, and my idea was not too well accepted.

I hope you weren't offended by anything I said, Breezie, because I certainly did not intend that! I only objected to the phrase "machine-made" because, as an artist, I know that it is quite possible to make precise, finished lines without the use of machines. Had you said "press molds" originally, I might have been more inclined to agree with you. I use molds and textured press pads quite a lot (usually taken from things I sculpted myself) so I can attest to the process. I just wouldn't have called it machine made. Maybe it is merely a matter of semantics.

At any rate, in this case, if a press mold was used, it would still have needed to have the ring added, because the mold would almost surely have been an open-faced style with a smooth back. (This doesn't have detail on back.) That would explain the tool marks on the left side back of the ring. If the entire ring had been molded as a unit, it would have required a much more complicated mold than a simple press mold (at least 3 pieces) and you would see flashing along the seams. Even a well-cleaned piece will usually show some sign of those mold marks, but I see none here. (Although we don't have a good closeup from the side do we?)

I also really think (as you do, Breezie) that this is a relatively modern piece. My guess is that it is not more than 200 years old at best, and probably less than half that. The one really BIG thing that I am wondering about is whether ancient cultures actually used "napkin rings" at all. It never occurred to me to wonder before, but my guess is probably not. The other examples here may have served some other purpose -- perhaps as primitive closures for robes?