Carved Stone Fish Fetishes Framed. Used for Dead People??

Just got this wonderful looking set of carved fish fetishes in an antique frame. The back has a piece of paper explaining that these were for placing over the eyes of a person who has died. I don't think that's true. Whatcha think? Each measures about 2-3 inches.

 

Looks like it may be true............ https://books.google.com/books?id=2... jade fish placed on eyes of the dead&f=false

 

it says...dug up in cemeteries .....I wouldn't touch these.........
& they don't look dug up either..

 

I wouldn't touch them either. I hunt Indian artifacts as a hobby and a piece of stone dug up out of the ground cleans up very nicely. These could well be as represented on that piece of paper. I have never hunted artifacts in areas I know or believe to be burial grounds and I wouldn't sleep well with those in the house.

 

Thanks for this educational and scary thread.
Wow.

 

I have no fear of things that have touched the dead - or that the dead have touched. I own thousands of items dead people have touched, and probably many hundreds of items that have touched dead people. Out of simple respect, I would avoid disturbing them IF they had been used in ceremonies or rituals and had been found in situ, though that is not always possible. I am not even frightened of the dead, because by definition, they can not harm you physically.

 

Hi,
The dead can not hurt you BUT they can cause you to harm yourself.
greg

 

" a piece of stone"....ya...but 11 pieces of stone....all similar ..with not a mark of gunk even in the cut lines..........ya gotta wonder !

 

Yes. Logic would say that it is very unlikely that anyone dug up enough graves to obtain this many jade fish. But might someone have bought them as souvenirs on a trip to wherever, and framed them, and they or another person added the note? Pretty likely. The frame and note do seem to have some age, but that does not necessarily indicate the note is true.
I'd interpret it as meaning "Jade fish, similar to those dug up in cemeteries, and put on the eyes of dead people."
A whole different kettle of fish.

 

And who knows, if that is their original purpose, they may have been crafted and stock piled for future use - and never used. NOS for DOA???

 

MIB...only sold in pairs !

 

That is creepy anundverkaufen. Hopefully that wasn't taken from a dead person. I know when I reach my final resting place I would prefer to be left there...