It has been a while since I
have put up a mystery object. Today’s object is boldly carved from wood in the
shape of a lion, and is about seven inches long. It has a practical use (rather
than a merely decorative one), and is an object still commonly found and used
today, although usually in a less-decorated form.
 |
| What is this lion used for? |
As usual for mystery objects,
if you know or can guess what the object is, enter it in the comments below.
Correct answers will be saved until after the revealing post, so comment
moderation is enabled for this post only.
Good luck!
Hello Jim. Inkwell? Candle holder? Incense burner? Snuff (or opium!) holder? The metal clip is a puzzle though. I suppose that being made of wood it might not be used for burning any substance unless it's ebony or similar. Dunno!
ReplyDeleteCLICK HERE for Bazza’s blatherskite Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
Hello Bazza, None of these are correct, although one of your guesses did touch on an aspect of this object. --Jim
DeleteHello Jim. When the morning light comes through the window to interrupt my sleep, this creature's face staring at me from my night stand will give me a startle--signaling it is time to rise and shine. The hole is to put my finger in, so I can turn the creature's face in the other direction, allowing me to sleep another 10 minutes. Am I right? did I guess correctly? Did I win the prize?
ReplyDeleteHello Mrs. D., Although I too am all for getting another ten minutes' sleep, that is not the purpose of this object. Also, I would not recommend putting your finger into the hole!
DeleteThe Chinese seem to like grimacing lions--did you see the post I did on lion masks? http://roadtoparnassus.blogspot.tw/2015/01/lucky-lions.html
--Jim
Something to do with art - a paint pot or a pot for short brushes.
ReplyDeletePlease send the winning cheque in Euros. The AUS$ is a bit soft just now.
Hello Hels, There is a tiny facet of your solution that does bear on actuality, but I'm afraid I can't start writing that check just yet. The U.S. dollar is also down right now--at least against the Taiwan dollar. It always seems to do the opposite of what I want!
Delete--Jim
I'd be curious to see this from another angle. The non-decorative bit reminds me of a mortar, and I wonder if it could have been used to grind ink?
ReplyDeleteI studied Chinese in Taipei and still miss the night markets. D in nyc
You are right that there are many magnificent Chinese objects meant to grind ink, but this is not one of them. When I post the answer, I will have a few more photos of this lion.
DeleteI am glad you enjoyed your stay in Taipei. The night markets are great, both for walking around and as a resource. --Jim
I have never seen a object like this. The rear hole must be a key to the correct answer. Wooden would not mean this is for fire? For what purpose is the lion gazing at you? To catch?! I guess this is .... No idea!
ReplyDeleteHello rtc, Actually, these are very popular in Japan. The back part of this is definitely part of its function. If you look closely at the lion, you might get another clue! --Jim
DeleteI am back to make a second guess. Is it a cigar tip cutter? Put the cigar in the hole, move the clip, and it cuts the tip off your cigar? And that's why you told me not to stick my finger in the hole.
ReplyDeleteHello again Mrs. D., This is a good guess, one that takes into account all the visible parts of the object, but unfortunately it still is not correct. --Jim
DeleteAnother guess: A mouse trap?
ReplyDeleteI keep thinking about your advice, not to put my finger in the hole.
The mouse goes into the hole to get the morsel of food, but the diameter of the hole gets increasingly smaller and the mouse wedges himself into the hole and can't escape.
Take the trap outside, and pull the cord or clip to release the mouse humanely.
If this isn't a mouse trap, then I suggest we make one. Kids would love it.
A scary toy? Pull the cord, the Lion jumps, sticks out his tongue, and a puff of smoke comes out of the hole?
Hello Mrs. D., I once read an article on antique mousetraps, and some of them you would never guess what they are by looking at them. Besides, a lion-mousetrap would not display proper gratitude--wasn't there a story about a lion who got caught and was rescued by a mouse who gnawed open the net?
DeleteAlso, although there are moving parts in this, the lion itself does not move. This is really a very utilitarian object--I am certain that you have seen them before! --Jim
A "chop"?
ReplyDeleteHello Columnist, No, this is not a chop or seal of any type, although there are a couple of micro-facets that your guess and this item share in common. --Jim
ReplyDeleteThis Morning's Guess: Is it a decorative platform for launching fireworks/rockets, and the cord is a fuse?
ReplyDeleteHello Mrs. D., Although I bet that the Chinese have made decorative fireworks launchers, this is not one of them. Since this is made of light wood, I would not want to get fire anywhere near it! I am not sure what you mean by "cord," but the item coming from under the lion's stomach is made of metal wire. --Jim
DeleteNext guess: A noise maker. (clues: metal wire--not a cord, light wood, moving parts, don't stick my finger in the hole). The hole has me completely stumped Jim.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet the section with the hole is completely essential to the functioning of this simple item. --Jim
DeleteI think the hole is for storing something precious. Medicine maybe or ground rhino-horn!
ReplyDeleteHello Bazza, There is nothing very precious or delicate about this item. --Jim
DeleteAlso, although things are placed in this, storage is not the primary function, which is an actual use of some type.
DeleteHello Jim,
ReplyDeleteI'm stumped! Is this a sharpener, trimmer, or cutter of some type?
Hello CD, There are no blades or cutters connected with this object. --Jim
DeleteLooks like builders snapline using ink rather than chalk
ReplyDeleteThank you for replying--you are absolutely correct! --Jim
DeleteI'm terrible at guessing these things, but I'm intrigued, and look forward to the unveiling!
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer, I am preparing the unveiling post right now, so the answer won't be long in coming. --Jim
DeleteDearest Jim,
ReplyDeleteWell as for the purpose of this mystery object, I really have no clue!
Finally am able to catch up on blog reading. Way behind but that was normal for our tight schedule.
On the day you published this we were at the Dutch Consul's reception for King's Day and spent the night in north Atlanta. We got visitors the next day for 2 nights. And we did celebrate Pieter's special 2-digit Birthday. Considering that there 'might' be only one more 2-digit special Birthday if God blesses us with that, it was special.
On May 2, 3 and 5 we had rehearsal at the local Theatre for our Revue and on the risers. I fell off from the 2nd height as I had not focused enough on the very limited space to dance on.
But guess I was very lucky for rolling down perfect without any broken bone. Only bruised left thumb and right under arm. On the 6th I performed twice that day, together with the younger 3 choirs and this was my 1st. Pieter enjoyed the Revue and when the DVDs are out by the end of this month, I will get to enjoy it too.
Yesterday for some reason I was feeling very sick, not a productive day at all but got up today by 5:00 AM and manage to catch up.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, With all the work you have done on your house and yard, I'll bet you have seen these in action.
DeleteYou had a nice getaway complete with Pieter's special birthday, but please be careful--falls are always potentially serious! Glad you are OK. --Jim