What was this used for ?

Ya ain't convincing me. Stylized as it is, this one still indicates the mating season plumage, doesn't have the thick down turned nutcracker beak nor those distinctive raised wings, a posture I'm not sure a peacock can even get into. I have seen peacocks roost, walk, fly, display & do their courtship 'dance' (more of a waggle). Once had one come up from behind where I was sitting & nearly snatch a cream filled doughnut out of my hand. The one on the vessel, in its stylized way, looks much more like a cockatoo of my acquaintance.

 

I was wondering maybe it could be some kind of hot pot / pressure cooking pot ? As it is so heavy built. steam and water goes out ?

 

Could you set it on a flame?

 

I got 2 pictures of the bottom, maybe it explains something. I keep coming back to the butter churns, see picture attached.

 

Cockatoos are not native to the region, peacocks are. They are not in the habit of depicting birds they don't know and have no symbolic meaning in their culture. It is always about symbolism.

 

Do they not have any native birds other than peacocks? I have to think this is something that gets around by flying more than walking.

 

Think bottom rules out use for cooking. I see the other photo. What are we looking at?

 

indian butter churn from the region where they do the bone inlaid furniture

 

Great research, Walter.

This is how they use it to churn butter, twist the rod in the centre of the contraption somewhat like the one that is missing from the churn we're discussing, this one is from Punjab:


The simpler version, like the model Walter found, this one is from Rajasthan:

 

Yes I think we solved it. I was about to post the same kind of pictures. But as I can see inside it was used, and having the inlaid bone it must have been quite expensive, because most of these pots I see are plain... or am I wrong here ? I am just wondering as my collection is getting bigger and bigger. I can't keep everything. If you would sell it what price to put on it ?

 

These don't have any legs at all, from a Pakistani truck:


Maybe you prefer these Indian folk art peacocks, a bit like dressed up tortoises?

 

Yes, it would have come from a fancier household.
I'm sorry, I have no idea of a price. All I can say is it is a nice old piece, my guess is beginning of the 20th century.

 

Well at least we figured it out. I hate having something and not been able to no know it's history (that's what makes it interesting). Thanks for all guys and I hope I can post something soon just as mysterious.. (keeps us busy!)

 

Walter's item has only the one square hole, which would not allow anything to twist. [Edit] What fit in the square hole would have to have a rod running through it. The radiating slots could have held a frame, as in the first picture, but why not then just make a round hole?

I would argue they are peahens.

 

With those tails? Are you sure? The dark turquoisy things are their tails.

 

Not for the first, or last, time, misread a picture. If those are tails, peacocks they are. Celebration of beauty over brains. One spring, when the cocks were in full plumage, it started to rain at the zoo. The peacocks were hunkering down, each under his own very tall tree with limbs that started too far up to give him much of any shelter, looking miserable. I wondered where all the peahens were. Finally spotted a group of them standing together under a dense bush with a building sheltering it on one side, apparently perfectly dry.

 

For origin, my first impression was Oceania... New Zealand, New Guinea... like that. Just a guess.