Soapstone Monkey's Paw (?) with Two Links

Discussion in 'Tribal Art' started by dgbjwc, Jul 1, 2017.

  1. dgbjwc

    dgbjwc Well-Known Member

    Hello Everyone - I picked this up in a box lot of soapstone and I'm lost on where to start finding out what it is. It measures about 8 1/4" long. The rings seem to be carved from the one slab as there are no breaks. I would appreciate any help in figurine out what this is and where it's from. Is it a good luck charm? Most of the other items in this lot were Chinese, Indian, and Pakistani. Thank you very much.
    Don

    IMG_20170701_214117925.jpg IMG_20170701_214137426.jpg IMG_20170701_214128460.jpg IMG_20170701_214153818.jpg
     
  2. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    It's an Italian figa and yes. It's good luck in Italy and a very rude gesture elsewhere.
     
    komokwa likes this.
  3. Mansons2005

    Mansons2005 Nasty by Nature, Curmudgeon by Choice

    I agree - an Italian figa.....................and please don't ask WHY an old WASP such as I is so familiar with the charm, or why he owns 5 or six of these.................:p:p
     
  4. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Si Jagur, the fertility canon of Jakarta, Indonesia:
    [​IMG]
    It was captured by the Dutch VOC after defeating the Portuguese in Malacca in 1641. It may also be a good luck symbol in Portugal, but it didn't help in this case. Indonesians now visit it for fertility.
     
    komokwa likes this.
  5. Mansons2005

    Mansons2005 Nasty by Nature, Curmudgeon by Choice


    I could make up about a hundred puns regarding this cannon and fertility...............but as I mentioned elsewhere, I find my membership here more important to me than the opportunity to be vulgar....................:cool::cool:
     
  6. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Just testing....:smuggrin:
     
    Mansons2005 likes this.
  7. dgbjwc

    dgbjwc Well-Known Member

    I wasn't aware the two were mutually exclusive but I'll take your word for it!

    Thanks to everyone for your help. I have never heard of a figa before but I have the feeling it's going to be interesting when I research it more in-depth! Much appreciated!
    Don
     
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  8. Bev aka thelmasstuff

    Bev aka thelmasstuff Colored pencil artist extraordinaire ;)

    We can only imagine. :p:p
     
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  9. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    I bought one in the 70's...they were all the rage...
     
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  10. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Yes, they were, just like those animal tooth pendants. In the 70s I wore a silver mounted mountain lion tooth pendant from Peru. I always thought it was a fake tooth until a vet friend of mine said it was real.
     
  11. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    I still have my black bear claw, silver mounted, bought in North Bay Ontario.
    I wore that for a long time....but the claw aged poorly....
    can I protect or preserve it with something?
     
  12. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    komokwa likes this.
  13. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

  14. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    methinks i SHOULD have done that in 78.......:oops:
     
  15. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Is it too far gone?
     
  16. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    well it's lost it's luster and has thinned out....but i'll try the nail polish..
     
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