Wood panel carving. Old or Decor????

Hi wondering if someone could tell me what this is, I bought this carved panel a few months because I thought it was interesting. Not sure if it’s just for decor, or if it’s actually old. Any info would be appreciated

 

Welcome Reeves.

Think everyone here would agree these two things are not mutually exclusive. Someone may come along who can tell you what it looks like being & give an opinion on whether it is genuinely that thing. We have members from around the globe, so sometimes it can take a while for the right person to see your post.

 

@komokwa might know what this is. I'd say 20th century and northern end of the Pacific Northwest, but beyond that... and I could be wrong on the first part. Those appear to be narwhal on the sides, and the saw cuts on the back look mechanical.

 

It reminds me of Dayak door panels from Borneo. So I would say Borneo or one of the eastern Indonesian islands.
Include Kalimantan in your search, it is the Indonesian part of Borneo. The Malaysian parts are Sabah and Sarawak. Brunei is also on Borneo.

 

Thanks Ruth....but this is way far away from anything North american...

AY, could be closer to the truth......but it's not anything I've seen from there either.???

 

I don't know much about Indonesian tribal, more about the many former royal and city states. But items which bear a faint resemblance to Dayak often turn out to be from Sulawesi or further east in Indonesia. So that's my guess. Could even be Dayak.

 

I'd add that it certainly shows no signs of being from the Northwest USA or Canada; and while it could be Borneo, I'd also add that craftspersons who like to carve wood can be very eclectic in their choice of subjects.
My Dad carved plaques representing: a fish "based" on a NW Coast carving he saw a photo of; a tulip from a photo in a bulb catalog; a frog based on a photo from National Geographic; some dancers based on a photo of a frieze in India.....and several of them might have seemed to have ethnic influences; but did not.

I can see fish, or shrimp, and sort of a Devil or bull; and things reminiscent of celtic knots.....but could be anything. I get a mid-century modern or 1970s vibe too; but my guess is that it is just something an amateur wood-carver felt like carving, as a decorative item.

 

I see a 4 legged creature with huge teeth....giving birth to water .......

Ohhhhh...it's coffee tyme !!

 

It is an alien/space monster.....

 

I could make a political joke here but won't.