Carved Asian Figural Lamps

I have two carved wood figures that have been made into lamps. I cut off the electric cord since it was old and from another country. The first one looks like a bird or dragon, fish and waves. The second is a bird hidden inside a seed pod atop a plant. They're big - about 22" high. The brass rod is to run the electric cord up to the bulb holder. I think they are Asian - has anyone seen carving like this? Any help appreciated.

 

This looks like a ram's head to me:



Wonder if sculpted wood of first lamp was used upside down.

 

Here's a picture turned upside down. I think you are correct. A ram's head. And there is a handle or plug at the top (bottom). Perhaps these carved pieces came from something else and were converted into lamps.

 

That is what I was thinking too.

 

Just curious.

 

It doesn't mean anything to me either way. Why is a bird inside a pod? And what are those spiky things? Some kind of plant?

 

I see some signs that the second one may not be a single piece but several segments stacked on one another. I am completely clueless about the top section. I don't have any feel for what culture produced it. Hate to do this & she may not see for a while - @Any Jewelry ?

 

The first looks like it might be a leg off some furniture piece.

 

Think then it would have to be upside down again? I was envisioning decoration of the front sides leading up to a support for an arm.

 

I think that knob could be a foot or support of some kind, so maybe it was the leg from a piece of furniture. It's possible both carvings were taken from other objects and crudely made into lamps.

 

It looks Indian to me. Mythical creatures and a double lotus under the pod-bird, intriguing. I agree, the first one is upside down.
I wonder if the two were once one piece? A pillar with a support for something? Which would explain why the pod-bird is looking a bit weak in the knees.

 

Thank you, AJ.

 

@NewEngland reminds me of a Pangolin with the scales ..... what do you think @Any Jewelry ?

 

It could be a pangolin (a creature I never heard of until recently), or a sea monster.

 

Maybe the second one is a version of Garuda? Seen depicted many ways.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/in.pinterest.com/amp/carmapsum/garuda/

 

Have it tested for covid.
Many Hindu mythical beasts have scales, and many are composite animals, to represent land-water-air, that kind of thing.

It doesn't look powerful enought to be a Garuda. The way it is carved, it could be a bird that hides and plays tricks.

 

He’s Tricky Alright!

 

And hiding his true identity from us, so there you have it!