Featured Bone with incised designs

I got this bone in a group of unorganized, unidentified ethnic items at auction.

Is it bovine? Any ideas as to origin?

Thanks as always!



[P.S. I made the two other pics attachments because they're maybe kinda disturbing...]

 

beautifully done,i don't find the pics disturbing (what kind of bone is it ?).

 

Not sure. Various bovine species would be my guess, but maybe it's not thick enough for a heavy, slow animal...

 

my guess is that bone is old, but I don't recognize the markings........

@Any Jewelry , does this piece say anything to you ?

 

Maybe @2manybooks would have an idea too.

 

You are sure it's bone and not fired clay? Easier to tell in hand vs looking at photos.

 

Yeah-- thanks for the thought. It's definitely bone.

 

Maybe decorated to be a handle for a weapon or tool. No idea what culture this would be from. What was the origin of the other ethnic items it was with?

 

You need the right Archaeology Dept-thing's fine.

 

The other items I got at this auction were some SW pottery, a Shipibo bowl, Molas, a keris, some photography, "old Indo-Persian textiles"....

So, no real pattern to follow!

 

As to what bone, my guess would be a tibia from a bovine or equine. The shape (particularly the triangular cross section on one end) looks like cow bones I get from the pet store to make awls out of. The thickness would depend, to some degree, on the age of the animal. But an archeologist trained in animal osteology could give a more definitive answer.

https://russellboneatlas.wordpress.com/home/cow-bone-atlas-3/cow-tibia/

https://russellboneatlas.wordpress.com/home/horse-bone-atlas/horse-tibia/

I thought about it being a handle, but I don't see any evidence of it being attached to anything, or anything running through it. The condition looks archeological, but it is awfully clean, even in the pores.

The chevron design is ancient, but without any other figures it is difficult to place stylistically. I can picture a bored Roman soldier sitting on Hadrian's wall, passing the time by embellishing a bone from supper.

 

I love that picture! I think that's what I'm gonna (personally) go with...

Thank you once again for your consideration.

 

I would sure like to see examples of such handiwork, if you'd be so inclined, 2MB...Thanks for considering my query!

 

Not too often something stumps everyone. Interesting thing. Does it look very old in person?

 

Yeah it does look old, though certainly not 2000 years old, but I'll admit to being clueless there. It seems like there's an older patina that has somehow been damaged in places, revealing a lighter colored texture underneath. I'm not sure that that means anything... There's a bit of chalky, powdery, dusty residue on it.

 

Very nice piece definitely looks like bone. I imagine it could be a decanter that once had a lid or a ceremonial drinking cup. Made intentionally to stand upright with a sealed off bottom. The carving is very fine and precise. Made a little more special than someone just passing time. It was made for a purpose Just my opinion.

 

Interesting idea! I hadn't thought of that, and it's pretty gross. But who knows?

 

I make these for use in basketmaking, and occasionally sell to other basketmakers.

 

Awwwwl ......

do u sign em?

 

Those are really as fine as any ivory awl I've ever handled...very beautifully done!
I can easily understand the shaping and finishing, 'tho probably it takes longer than I would estimate...but the selection of the raw(!) stock, and subsequent aging/curing/cleaning, in whichever order, is certainly as important in the quality and appearance of the final tool. If you're comfortable with sharing your processes, I would be most grateful...and if not, No Blame...Thank you for the pic, 2MB!