Found on demolition site I was working at wanted to find out how old it could be possibly made from silver also if anyone can read the bottom of statue or recognises the stamp
old digger
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Your item looks Asian with a dolphin draped over it's back. Maybe a rendition of an Asian ''Neptune''. It also looks like plated silver or a silver-lead mix (Pewter).
Your item looks Asian with a dolphin draped over it's back. Maybe a rendition of an Asian ''Neptune''. It also looks like plated silver or a silver-lead mix (Pewter).
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GoldieLocks
Bronze Member
It doesn't look silver to me. The groin covering doesnt look right for the style. It has multiple styles. These were popular in the 1980's. People would collect them pewter maybe. I bet ebay would have many like it at anytime for sale pretty cheap.
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Red-Coat
Gold Member
Welcome to Tnet.
It might be pewter or a white metal alloy, but not silver. It also looks like it may have had some blue paintwork on it at one time. I can’t read what it says on the base, apart from a word which might begin with a ‘P’ and end with an ‘E’. Nevetheless, this is a piece of Western decorative ‘Chinoiserie’ loosely based on Chinese mythology, but not an authentic Chinese piece.
The imagery derives from a Chinese legend about a carp that managed to swim up a huge waterfall on a mountain to reach the mythical ‘Dragon’s Gate’ at the top and was rewarded by being transformed into a golden dragon. In later times the legend has become figurative for human courage, perseverance, and accomplishment, spawning modern figurines like this.
Here’s a similar one in miniature (sorry for the picture quality) cast in resin to simulate ivory, produced by the Italian company Fontanini.
It might be pewter or a white metal alloy, but not silver. It also looks like it may have had some blue paintwork on it at one time. I can’t read what it says on the base, apart from a word which might begin with a ‘P’ and end with an ‘E’. Nevetheless, this is a piece of Western decorative ‘Chinoiserie’ loosely based on Chinese mythology, but not an authentic Chinese piece.
The imagery derives from a Chinese legend about a carp that managed to swim up a huge waterfall on a mountain to reach the mythical ‘Dragon’s Gate’ at the top and was rewarded by being transformed into a golden dragon. In later times the legend has become figurative for human courage, perseverance, and accomplishment, spawning modern figurines like this.
Here’s a similar one in miniature (sorry for the picture quality) cast in resin to simulate ivory, produced by the Italian company Fontanini.
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TheCannonballGuy
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Note that the fish (or whatever) has been deeply speared under its jaw by a short-handled Trident. I think that fact is relevant to the "meaning" of the statue... which would not be favorable to the fish.
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BigDadddy
Jr. Member
I agree with everyone else, Chinese Fisherman Staues are common. They stand for abundance and prosperity. If you had the bakelite one above you'd probably have a little money ($150) or so. This pewter one is super cool for a ground find but the value isn't there. Some stoner probably lost it! Happy hunting!
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