Featured Need Help w/Identifying 16" Ornately Carved Wood Bowl

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by Jim Goodykoontz, Dec 30, 2023.

  1. Jim Goodykoontz

    Jim Goodykoontz Active Member

    hi everyone. i just found this yesterday. i think it's amazing. it's very asymmetrical and rich looking with all of the varied elements. it also has a finely carved feel to it with the walls being quite thin. i'm trying to figure out what the origin of this piece is. it looks like something from the arts and crafts period with the little frog and the crab. my personal guess is Japanese or Chinese, but i can't be certain. also, any ideas as to the type of wood used would be great too. it's completely unmarked. as you might notice in the pics, there are a couple of spots of minor damage. they could be made to look less noticeable but i wouldn't do anything to it myself. i hope this is a good forum category to list this under, any help will be greatly appreciated...thanks

    bowl_ful1.jpg bowl_ful2.jpg bowl_top1.jpg bowl_base.jpg bowl_det1.jpg bowl_det3.jpg bowl_det4.jpg bowl_end2.jpg
     
  2. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    Looks Japanese and carved from a burr/burl.
     
  3. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    nice bowl..... handle and base sure look like scorpion tails..
     
  4. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    All I know is that I love it.
     
  5. Jim Goodykoontz

    Jim Goodykoontz Active Member

    thank you both. i hadn't placed the handle and base and that does look like what they are. as far as the Japanese id, i can't find anything similar to it. i've found one meiji carved bowl, but as with all others it's round. i guess this might best be described as a carved basket? there are a couple of things similar on google images with that description, but nothing really close.
     
    Figtree3, Bronwen, johnnycb09 and 2 others like this.
  6. laura9797

    laura9797 Well-Known Member

    Well that is just a fantastically fun piece! I never get to find things like that!
     
  7. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Beautiful piece. I wonder if it is an artistic take on a garden basket.
     
  8. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    Odd mix if it is, it’s got water lilies and crabs! As well as I think a water beetle and fungi.
     
    Bronwen and johnnycb09 like this.
  9. johnnycb09

    johnnycb09 Well-Known Member

    Id have jumped on it too. Its beautifully done.
     
    Jim Goodykoontz and Bronwen like this.
  10. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    The general wildlife and plants found on a lot of Chinese and Japanese items. There is rarely a relationship between the purpose of the item and its decoration.;)
     
  11. kentworld

    kentworld Well-Known Member

  12. Jim Goodykoontz

    Jim Goodykoontz Active Member

    hi, thank you all for your input. this was found in a Goodwill...very lucky find for this day and age. it does show that there's still good stuff out there to be found, though. with regards to what it is, based on similar items i'm seeing online, i guess it would be best described as a Meiji carved burl Ikebana basket. also, i don't see a water beetle anywhere. i think those little protuberances by the crab are clams. the creature coming out of the flower is a frog.
     
  13. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    Ikebana is possible....but flower arranging in that open bowl.....??
     
    Figtree3 likes this.
  14. Jim Goodykoontz

    Jim Goodykoontz Active Member

    that's what others online with similar pieces are describing them as. i could see this basket as a centerpiece on, for instance a dining room table with flowers. it's sort of shaped like a cornucopia. this is definitely something i'm going to try to sell and i want to have the most accurate description i can come up with. i've had other pieces from the Meiji period with water lilies so i know that's a common decoration on things from that period. i would still love for someone to come up with a definitive answer to what it is. this is a unique item.
     
    Figtree3 and Any Jewelry like this.
  15. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    It's really lovely, and so unusual.
     
    komokwa likes this.
Draft saved Draft deleted
Similar Threads: Need Help
Forum Title Date
Antique Discussion Antique Chinese?? Need help Jul 6, 2024
Antique Discussion Old church stained glass window, need help with period & describing please May 29, 2024
Antique Discussion Need help identifying a coiled basket. Possibly Native American? May 26, 2024
Antique Discussion Help! I need to glue gesso pieces back on a mirror frame. Apr 3, 2024
Antique Discussion need help with any info about this doll, history? value? Mar 17, 2024

Share This Page