Long Time Listener, First Time Caller

[thenewguy]

Hey Gents,

Been lurking around here for quite a while, but never had the need to post until today.

Ran across this fella at a Garage Sale today and had to have it, even though I don't have the first clue what it is.

It has no markings on the back. Just raw wood.

And it weighs a ton. 30 pounds, maybe more.

Any ideas on what it could be? Is it hand carved? Do you just hang it on the wall?

Paid $5 for it.

 

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[MZKITY62]

I can't believe that I am going to be the first one to answer you. I know it is what is called Tramp Art. It looks to be either a wall hanging or the top to a box.

 

[thenewguy]

Why thank you -- just spent a fascinating half an hour learning about tramp art. Good stuff.

Now do those look like roosters to anyone else? My first guess is roosters, but then my mind starts playing tricks on me and saying no it's a duck, no, it's a horse!

 

[Charmin]

Very cool find, newguy! It looks like a horse to me---kinda like the Trojan Horse. Something like this:

 

[diggummup]

With the beak so pronounced like it is, it looks more like a duck. I'm no expert but, I also believe this is not American folk art, but an asian piece, judging by the stylization of the bird carvings. Perhaps some mythological bird. I will try looking later.

 

[StoneWhisper]

This is not an asian inspired wood carving.. If you research asian carvings you'll not that they spend allot of time with very intricate designs with a very pronounced type of detail.. It has a Lebanese or Turkish influence to the piece and wasn't mass produced or made by machine.

As for the "bird" I think its a rooster.. and this might be the lid to a "cock fighting" carriage box.

$5.00 for it?.. I guess you got your moneys worth.

 

[diggummup]

This is not an asian inspired wood carving.. If you research asian carvings you'll not that they spend allot of time with very intricate designs with a very pronounced type of detail.. It has a Lebanese or Turkish influence to the piece and wasn't mass produced or made by machine.

As for the "bird" I think its a rooster.. and this might be the lid to a "cock fighting" carriage box.

$5.00 for it?.. I guess you got your moneys worth.

You may well be right. As I said I'm no expert. I've never seen a rooster with a beak like that though. Just giving an opinion. So what is a cock fighting carriage box anyway? I would assume it's a box to transport the birds to/from a fight?

 

[cyberdan]

Those really look like ducks. Fat & tasty.

 

[pynchinflint]

My first thought was also a duck. Not trying to be a wise alec here because of the material the piece is made of, but, it looked like a "wood duck" to me. The crest of a rooster doesnt make sense to me since that design appears all over the artwork. Cool piece and nice find.

 

[diggummup]

Hintha

 

[Shambler]

Hintha

Yup. When overseas with the military, I saw entire bedroom sets carved like that. They'd be like a cave of wood with a bed in the middle. They were beautiful, but way too heavy to ship back to the US

Unfortunately, I don't see much value in that piece. If you ebay it, link us.