Can anyone help me to identify these oriental figures? The woman who left them to me seemed to think there was something quite special about them. They’re at least 45 years old, as they were given to my friend when she was in her 20’s and she was in her 60’s when she passed a few years ago.
There are no marks. They appear to be hand painted. I don’t know what material they’re made from. They’re each quite heavy. There are a few areas where the paint is chipped, showing a metallic looking substrate but it’s certainly not metal.
I’m at my wits end. If anyone has seen anything like these before and can give me some info, I’d sure appreciate it.
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Edited to [URL removed] Montrose, when I tap it against a stone it has a midrange sound, if that means anything to you. Not metallic pinging, not a hollow tone, sort of the sound you would expect to hear if someone was tapping a chisel on a stone except at a lower octave. Does that make sense?
I’ve added a listing to my booth so that better photos are available. the listing is here [URL removed] If anyone can help I’d really appreciate it!
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collectiblecorner Reputation: 120 See collectiblecorner's booth |
They look like chalkware to me, and I found this completed pair on the dark side. These look like your pair, except the clothing is painted a different color. I would think there was some type of metal used to line the vase part, otherwise any water added would dissolve the chalkware.
[URL removed]
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TimeSpanTreasures Reputation: 956 See TimeSpanTreasures' booth |
Just curious, if gently tapped against a stone, what sound does it seem?
Wondering if it is Soapstone, but then again, it shouldn’t have any metallic looking substrate. I’ll ask Hashita (age 85 friend of mine that lives with her son in Osaka) and will Update/edit this information.
03/21/12 [URL removed] She looked at the images I sent and replied that they were quite common (back then) made of chalkware. Common to her is probably the same as to the Homco figurines we see around.
Value? Worth only the sentiment memories one would cherish.
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MONTROSE Reputation: 8354 See MONTROSE's booth |
They look like chalkware to me (which is plaster of paris) and quite heavy. I wonder if they painted the raw forms with a jesso material so that they could paint them without the paint sinking into the chalkware.
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lynnestreasures Reputation: 126 See lynnestreasures' booth |
Boy this one is interesting. I am thinking if it is heavy and isn’t metal it must be a carved stone with an overlay of something that allowed it to be painted. Looking at that chip it looks like the paint or paint layer is quite thick. It certainly is interesting. I have seen Foo Dogs done like this but I don’t know how it is done. Curious to see what people can add.
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Yettalass Reputation: 128 See Yettalass' booth |
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