Age or origin thoughts?

Water buffalo candle holder,unknown history.

 

It reminds me of some italian pieces from the 50s-60s.

 

What is that hole for under his chin? @EZEL

 

good question, it took me a while to find it!

 

I can't find the hole under his chin !! .. Joy.

 

Cute. I think it is Indian (India). It doesn't strike me as tribal Indian, more like village craft.

 

It's an incense burner, that hole is where the air goes in to help the incense to come out.

 

Not sure. Malcolm says for air. Seems to make sense. Although there are no holes at top.

 

Could the smoke come out of his nose. Now that would be cool

 

Well, then it is not a candle holder, as mentioned earlier. So, we should see the inside to see that the top hole meets with the "air" hole to solidify the incense burner theory AND see if the smoke comes out of his nose...because we all know, that would be cool.

 

There is no top hole.

 

What!? Then what IS that hole for under his ear/chin for?

 

To let expanding air so it doesn't explode when it's fired in a kiln.

 

boring....
But, thank you very much for putting an end to the growing conspiracy theory.

 

You would not see the other end of the hole, the hole would go under where the incense burns.

 

Maybe I'm confused....but are there ANY holes other than the hole - or spot- under his chin? Are the nose holes pierced all the way through, or the "hole" under the chin?
If there are no holes other than the one under the chin, then, as a ceramic item, presumably fired, it would need an air hole of some sort to avoid exploding in the kiln.
If there is a big hole underneath, not shown in the photos, and the nose holes are pierced, then I do like the incense burner theory.
Maybe it used to have a flat base piece, now missing; the incense sat on that, and the ox was placed over it; smoke came out the nose.
And the spot under the chin is just a spot, not a hole? Maybe.
A photo of the underside might confirm that.

 

There is no hole underneath and there has never been a base. Hole must be for kiln.

 

''Hole" or "Holes" has been mentioned 20 times and I STILL can't find the chin hole !! 21 times now LOLOLOL ... Joy.

 

Actually 24 times !! LOTS of "holes" ..