✅ SOLVED Mystery with dragons !!!

[Alset]

Found this piece in Ohio. Have asked around a bit and have yet to identify it. The tabs in the center square are about 1/2 in. deep set. Seems to be dragons as design. Not sure about the numbers on the back either. 1608 or 8091... Possible date or piece number.

 

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[old digger]

Your item looks like a belt buckle or sash broach. And I don't think those are dragons, they are dolphins.

 

[CRUSADER]

Your item looks like a belt buckle or sash broach. And I don't think those are dragons, they are dolphins.

I agree with the stylised dolphins copying an older more ancient form, but I don't think buckle.
I think its brass & is part of a larger piece, kind of like an insert to a ?? Then it had a square insert on top, not sure what, maybe glass? Like an ashtray, but no idea really.

 

[ToddsPoint]

They remind me more of sea horses than dolphins. Gary

 

[ARC]

Poked around a bit to no avail.... very cool item... hold onto this one.

My best guess is some sort of picture frame... I say this because of the back prongs enable a picture or miniature painting to be inserted and removed.

IF it was this... you only have a part of it.

Definitely either old... or modeled after an old one.

PS... they are not dragons... as stated by old digger... they are "dolphins".

"stylized dolphins" to be exact.

 

[Anduril]

I agree with AARC. Dolphins.

 

[Alset]

Dolphins are just as cool. I guess I was thinking dragon because they seem to have what looks like ears. But thanks for the input and I'll continue looking around

 

[tamrock]

Your item looks like a belt buckle or sash broach. And I don't think those are dragons, they are dolphins.

I thought Roman style dolphins also, but then I thought could they be sea horses, being they have a long curly tail. My guess it's maybe a salt dish missing a glass insert.?? What ever it is, it's a pretty neat find.

 

[Doubter in MD]

I'm with ToddsPoint. I think they're seahorses.

 

[Red-Coat]

I think they're actually a stylised western interpretation of Chinese 'dragon fish' which derive from an oriental legend of a fish that struggled to make its way to the top of a waterfall and was rewarded by being transformed into a golden dragon. Various forms of this hybrid fish/dragon were used as motifs by the Chinese to symbolise the determination and strength of will of the fish and the strength and power of the dragon. They found their way onto western world decorative 'Chinoiserie' during the late 1800s in copied forms that have been modified from the styles originally used by the Chinese.

 

[Doubter in MD]

I think they're actually a stylised western interpretation of Chinese 'dragon fish' which derive from an oriental legend of a fish that struggled to make its way to the top of a waterfall and was rewarded by being transformed into a golden dragon. Various forms of this hybrid fish/dragon were used as motifs by the Chinese to symbolise the determination and strength of will of the fish and the strength and power of the dragon. They found their way onto western world decorative 'Chinoiserie' during the late 1800s in copied forms that have been modified from the styles originally used by the Chinese.

Whenever I read your posts, I add a British accent in my head. That skews my perception of your posts. I believe a good British accent adds at least 50% more credibility to anything you comment on.

 

[Red-Coat]

Whenever I read your posts, I add a British accent in my head. That skews my perception of your posts. I believe a good British accent adds at least 50% more credibility to anything you comment on.

Ha ha! Salute to you.



Does it help if I add in the walk?



I'm thinking this kind of thing:

 

[ARC]

They are dolphins or fish even. IMO

Arrrg you mean now I actually gotta research and work ... bah...:P

Heh

 

[ARC]

Without digging too deep...

View attachment 1857005

 

[Yang Hao]

They could be seahorses but looking at Carribo5's post in Late July 2020 about the dragon plaque, they do look like carp. or a carp/dragon mix.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/garage-sale-finds/638021-nine-sons-dragon-stone-plaques.html

I commented in that post on chinese mythology regarding carp and their significance with dragons. Here is a wiki on that.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_in_Chinese_mythology#Carp

If you notice the animals in this post's treasure item look too be breathing water or fire from their mouths. (my guess would be water).

The item above looks to be as Red-Coat says "western interpretation of Chinese 'dragon fish'"

 

[ARC]

 

[ARC]

 

[CRUSADER]

I'm sticking with Dolphin, seen many ancient images similar. This is a later copy of those designs.

 

[DCMatt]

Inkwell stand?

 

[CRUSADER]

Inkwell stand?

View attachment 1857079

Thats a good possibility. I think it was part of a larger piece.