Those are called “hog ties” . They are frequently used in the model home decorating business to clamp fabric items together so they don’t get stolen! You close them with pliers, and they are very hard to open. (OOPS this comment goes to photo below)
I am assuming this is wood — what it looks like to me is a piece of African art — my parents lived in West Africa for many years and were big colelctors. I have never seen anything quite like this, however. Is it a bird?
My first thought was a statue of a “jaberwaukie”. Definitely a hand carved statue of some bird or beast. A large billed bird or possibly a totem of a native people.
It looks like there are several carvings, they do look African in style and the dark color that much of the native wood there is….but the fact that the bottom of the legs is light-colored says that the color is just stain and the motif seems to be a version of the “see no evil” monkeys. I remember seeing similar at some home decor store in the 1990’s.
February 9th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Those are called “hog ties” . They are frequently used in the model home decorating business to clamp fabric items together so they don’t get stolen! You close them with pliers, and they are very hard to open. (OOPS this comment goes to photo below)
February 9th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
you use these to remove the heel end of your boots while seated.
February 12th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I am assuming this is wood — what it looks like to me is a piece of African art — my parents lived in West Africa for many years and were big colelctors. I have never seen anything quite like this, however. Is it a bird?
February 28th, 2008 at 1:09 am
african art
March 4th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
My first thought was a statue of a “jaberwaukie”. Definitely a hand carved statue of some bird or beast. A large billed bird or possibly a totem of a native people.
March 9th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Pelican Totem
March 21st, 2008 at 7:54 am
Have you had a downturn in your luck since you touched that?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:51 am
toucan?
March 30th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Looks like a DAN ceremonial dance mask from West Africa. Its worn on the head with raffia covering the body beneath.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:19 pm
It’s a strangely carved hatstand–for equally strange hats!
April 5th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
If I were to bet, I beleive that they look like they take mud off your boots,or you take your boots off with them.
April 17th, 2008 at 5:18 am
i think this is a carved image of an Indian chief, or idol
May 10th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
this is a wood carving originated in africa, it is of a Hippopotamus.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:07 am
I saw this in the new Indiana Jones movie
June 1st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
ooooooooohhhhhh……… those Headhunters are not going to like you having that!
Their Great Parrot God is going to come and poop on your car !
July 11th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Once I looked at it…I started having vision problems…..things are going dark……
September 25th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
If you’ve seen the movie Labryinth, it’s the helmet that the man in the labryinth wore… and the bird on top talks.
December 5th, 2008 at 4:47 am
hog ties
December 12th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Could you please model this with the raffia and such. Movie with totem dance would be helpful, too.
May be ceremonial headdress for a narrow-minded chief.
June 8th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
South American Indian Tortoise symbol
August 7th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
It looks like there are several carvings, they do look African in style and the dark color that much of the native wood there is….but the fact that the bottom of the legs is light-colored says that the color is just stain and the motif seems to be a version of the “see no evil” monkeys. I remember seeing similar at some home decor store in the 1990’s.