Featured Mexican wooden jar

I picked this up last week in Penrith. There was no phone signal in the locality so I had to take a gamble really.
I think it's vintage mexican and possibly touristy. I think it is too well turned to have any real age

It's about 11cm ø

 

Looks more South American than North American to my eye. Let's see what others think.

Debora

 

Agree.

 

Thanks guys

 

I'll be following this thread because of my mystery stacked box set:



It was sold to me as being Amsterdam/The Hague School batik ware, and while the shape, characteristic lid, and colour scheme look the same, the motifs do not.
Dutch Amsterdam/The Hague School batik ware was inspired by Javanese batik techniques, and often used Javanese motifs or typical Amsterdam School motifs. The Dutch batik technique was applied to textiles, but also to wood and celluloid.
These motifs are neither Javanese nor Amsterdam School, imo.

Someone has suggested to me that the 'animals' are Dayak Aso, or Dragon Dogs, in which case it is from Borneo, but I haven't been able to find proof. So I am open to suggestions.

 

Oooh thanks. Nice to see something similar as there doesn't seem to be much similar online. I do have another one but was feeling lazy last night. I will post photos when I get home.

 

I also have another stacked set. Darker colour, and two tiers, if I remember correctly (it is in another room and I'm too lazy to go look. Geez we're a lazy bunch!).
The one I posted is my favourite though, it sits on my Art Deco vanity.

 

the critters are similar for sure....

 

Here's the other one. It looks like the colour is water based.

 

This looks similar. Described as Polynesian

https://www.bidsquare.com/online-au.../polynesian-small-painted-bowl-c1940s-1688023

 

I have found more in what seems to be a related style, but no one can agree on their origin.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1014646991065222779/

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1482932716/kistje-dekselbakje-hout-decoratief

https://orientalartsas.com/es/scato...adera-de-caoba-de-lombok-burdeos-pequeno.html

https://www.ebay.com/itm/314474435851

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2856809660...lp:2332490&itmmeta=01HX093ZFZ0QQCQ7FVTHHDY2VS

https://www.etsy.com/listing/246811309/hand-carved-wooden-box-from-lombok

 

Thanks. One description says aboriginal. Interesting

 

The last one you posted is interesting. The seller says Lombok, and the box is the only one with a carved bird finial on the lid, like Lombok boxes have, as well as some other Indonesian boxes. The seller on the Italian site (Spanish language) also says Lombok, btw.


https://www.etsy.com/listing/246811309/hand-carved-wooden-box-from-lombok

So I think Lombok, or at least Indonesia, is the strongest contender so far.

 

Yes, it seems a good possibility. The characteristics of the wood (as seen in Chinoiserie's closeups) looks similar to what I have seen in some Balinese carvings, so it might be the same tropical species.

Just found this in my bookmarks related to Indonesian objects -

Figure 8: Decorative wooden bowl with painted lizard designs:

https://www.art-pacific.com/artifacts/indonesi/lombasko.htm

I would feel better if we could find the actual animal figure on one identified as from Lombok.

 

Finally -

https://www.etsy.com/listing/539507...how_sold_out_detail=1&ref=nla_listing_details

"This painted wood bowl comes from the Lombok Island of Indonesia, and it is hand painted. Tribal design, and shapes are distinctive. Families work together, and children learn the art at very young age."

 

Lombok it is then. Thanks for all the work you did, @2manybooks . My stacked boxes have been a mystery for quite some time, and I am happy to know now.

 

Hooray. Three cheers for book person

 

A very satisfying conclusion to the source mystery. Well done all.

Debora

 

@Any Jewelry - I think I was not seriously considering an Indonesian source in the beginning because I figured you knew all things Indonesian already.
It certainly seems to be a less common art form than their baskets.

 

When AJ says she didn't know I kind of gave up all hope.