Featured Ivory Boxer on Pedestal - Why?

Maybe Nicholai Valuev? Just guessing. Ha ha.

 

There is a crack in the ivory, but it does not go all the way through and the face is still integral to the piece.

I am not a boxing aficionado, but that was my thought as well. The photo @Debora found certainly could have been a model, but it may be a very common boxer pose. The carving is so well done I believe the artist could have made the face look more like Joe Lewis if he had wanted to.

He may just remain a mystery, but I really appreciate all the interesting comments.

 

Yikes! That certainly looks more like him.

 

I'm sure he could have, it is excellent craftsmanship.

 

Totally agree! You don't get to portray musculature like that and not know how to make s face resemble your subject.

I'm getting a strong artistic vibe from this piece- vety evocative of an older boxer, there are some gnarly saggy bits, but tough as iron look to him. Folk art materials fir sure, but this is a VERY good piece. The problem is it's so unusual and not likely by someone known so hard to get it in front of the right buyers. Is there such s thing as s specialist folk art auction house you could submit it to? I really like it. Plinth aside of course ; )

 

I got him for my personal collection. It would not be legal here to sell him, as he is elephant ivory. Fortunately, the source did not correctly identify the material.

 

Eek! Sorry I didn't realise it was elephant ivory !

Then my advice is to see if you can safely cut down or change that base. The problem is that it looks 'sort of like legs so it makes the piece look weird - if it was sitting on a low plain disc or a cube that is wider it would look much better. The plinth should just look like a platform, not like the piece is emerging from it. I think you'll be able to enjoy it much more like that.

I love it !

 

On the contrary - the weirdness is one of the reasons I like it. Straight into my cabinet of curiosities.

 

I agree. Yes a little oddly matched but very cool and more interesting as is.

 

Ooo- a "cabinet of curiosities"... it sure would be interesting to see something else from in there...

Could be a whole thread too...

 

Sure that's the other way to go If its weirdness is what you like, dont touch it! I just like the top sculpture a lot so I would probably try to make it less like he's wearing a tube skirt but I agree it has a wonky cool as it is!

 

I know the OP said it felt weird in the hand if it was a walking stick handle etc but I see signs that this piece was in contact with skin a lot. The dark spot on the top of the head area and on the sides of the arms is so much more pronounced than the rest of the ivory. It could have belonged to a boxer rather than being a depiction of someone specific.

 

Thank you for the observations.
The figure itself is only about 2" high, and does not seem to be large enough to have been part of an actual supportive cane, which is why I suggested a swagger stick. I did notice the oil staining on the surfaces that would indicate he was held in a hand, but I think there would be more staining on his face than there is if he was held in the orientation of a cane or swagger stick, where the fingers would wrap around the face. He also fits quite comfortably in the hand on his current stand, his back in my palm, with fingers around the front over his gloves and perhaps a thumb on the top of his head, but largely avoiding his face. I considered if he might have been used as some sort of stamp, but there is no conclusive evidence on the bottom of anything having been attached there.

 

Exactly what I thought!!

 

My husband's great-grandfather had a presentation cane with a very elaborate carved eagle that was given to the Bowdoin College graduating class of 1865. We donated it to the College a few years ago. There is no reason not to suppose this was also the top of a presentation cane. Maybe the cane broke and someone thought it would be a good idea to glue it onto this weird base

 

Yes, salvaged from some sort of cane seems most likely. It does not help in internet searches that there is also the boxer breed of dog.