The item presented here is carved out of wood, and is
about eight inches across and about an inch thick. As far as I am aware, these are no longer in use,
and I somehow doubt that even in their heyday, these were in high demand in the
average household.
 |
| Although this all but gives it away, here is the reverse side. The patterned side alone gives an inadequate sense of this as a 3-dimensional object. |
Maybe you’ve seen one of these, and know what it is, otherwise please take
your best guess.
(Mystery object and photo
property of the author.)
It looks like a labyrinth - I'll be interested to see what it really is!
ReplyDeleteHello Merry Wife, Welcome to the blog, and thanks for commenting. Your reply made me realize that the photo shown was very two-dimensional, so I added a picture of the reverse.
DeleteEven with the extra hint, I'm still at a loss!
DeleteDear Jim - I like the carved wood as a decorative object in itself.
ReplyDeleteCould it have been for impressing a design on something? - it looks like a maize perhaps it is a game? Could the symbol be of some Chinese significance?
Hi Rosemary, I like the pattern also, and am hoping one day to be able to mount this on a wall. Your comments are very astute, but there is a specific utility for this object.
DeleteOne extra attempt - for making a mark on a wax seal.
DeleteHello again, There is nothing in the pictures for scale, but this is 8"/20cm wide, which would be pretty large for a seal.
DeleteDear Jim,
ReplyDeleteI love guessing games!
I don't really know what it could be but with those little apertures at the back I was thinking that it might be a filter of some sort. That would make it rather a clumsy one I know but then while writing this answer, Aretha Franklin has been singing 'I saw a Little Prayer'. This made me think of 60s fashion and those winter coats with large buttons and so now I am thinking it might a large button of some sort or a toggle (like an oversized netsuke).
Hello Kirk, I wouldn't put anything past 1960's fashion, but I don't believe that is what this is. At about 8 inches (20cm) in diameter, this would make a pretty large button! (Although come to think of it, there are colossal religious statues that could have had separate components.)
DeleteAlso, you can't see from the photo, but the depressions on the back do not connect with anything (including each other).
Hmmm that is rather large for a button!
DeleteDear Jim
ReplyDeleteThis object look like a similar that we used at past and sometimes now in my country !I took a photo at the antique market ! My mom has one and she used to mark the bread before the cooking and then she brings to the church . It is
religious tradition . The design that it has is part of our Christian Religion !At past every home has at least on ! Is it yours something like this ?From Asian tradition ?
I am looking forward to know about!!!
Have a nice week !
Olympia
Hello Olympia, I remember those bread stamps from your post. This is distantly related, although it is not a cooking implement. Your remarks do show an important insight, and I will be treating them when I write the main article tomorrow.
DeleteThe carved design on this is traditional, but seems to be unrelated to its function.
I'm excited about this new series. My guess: a stamp....perhaps for printing ink on textiles or paper. Many Chinese ancestral portraits are quite large, perhaps this was used for those?
ReplyDeleteLoi
Hello Loi, My first thought on picking this up was also that it was a printing block, but that identification quickly became problematic, even before I heard the alternate explanation. I'll explain more fully about this later.
DeleteHello Jim
ReplyDeleteWhat fun we are all having trying to discover the use for this piece.
My initial thought was it was the lid of a butter churn. Then if I get a second guess, perhaps a weight to use in pressing or curing a meat or fish.
Looking forward to your answer
Helen
Hello Helen, These are very interesting guesses, which bring a whole fresh aspect to the issue. I have seen those types of objects, and agree that there is a strong resemblance. However, they don't account for the deeply-cut pattern on the face.
DeleteBiscuit cutter? Ant maze?
ReplyDeleteFun idea for a series!
Hello Jen, Ha ha, an ant maze! I'm absolutely sure that you are correct on this one, although that was not the intended use.
DeleteFor want of a better description, a "cake mould", as in for a moon cake?
ReplyDeleteHello Columnist, A cake mould is a very plausible secondary explanation for this, but I'll give my reasons tomorrow why I don't think this is the primary identification.
DeleteDear Jim - I am guessing that we are seeing a character for prosperity or good luck in reverse and that this was used in creating round ceramic tiles.
ReplyDeleteHi Mark, This would make a splendid design for a tile, but I have no evidence that it was used in that way. I believe that you are correct in seeing a Chinese character built into the design, and I'll cover that tomorrow.
DeleteThe back side looks as if the two spaces are for fingers. Thus I am guessing it is a jelly or blancmange mould, something where the food sets and on the surface needs decorating.
ReplyDelete"only" the surface, not "on" the surface
DeleteHello Hels, This is an extremely perceptive comment, however my Source indicated that this was not used (at least directly) in the preparation of food. You are entirely correct about the finger grips.
DeleteA trivet? Well if it is not for food prep, and you can hold it but not for printing or patten making - is it some sort of toy? Maybe like a discus? I have no clue, I wish we could have had you come to the Palace museum with us because there were a couple odd objects where I thought, "what is that?!"
ReplyDeleteHello Ann, I would have loved to join you at the Palace Museum--maybe next time, although I am no expert.
DeleteAbout the object, I didn't mean to imply that it couldn't be used for making patterns, just that it wasn't meant for the exact methods suggested. I am working on the post right now, so all will be revealed soon.
I think that it is part of a steamer.
ReplyDeleteHello Gina, It does look exactly like the lid to a lot of steamers.
DeleteMy guess is it is a maze to be used with marbles, the spaces on the back are for fingers?
ReplyDeleteHello Cindy, It would be fun to use that way, but I don't think that's the original purpose. I have seen games like that built into a case so the marble doesn't keep falling off!
Delete