34 replies to this topic

[Ridureyu]

This turtle flips over to reveal an old man. It's probably a Yokai, but maybe not, as a thing with the appearance of another is kind of a common Japanese visual theme. We found this while looking through objects dating from very recent to about 70-80 years old, so there is no way to know how old this is.

Is it a Yokai?

Is it something specific?

And yes, it is plastic. Please help, if you can!

[imperfecz]

That is AWESOME! Wow! I don't know exactly why but that is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time.

[Universal Ruler Supreme]

I could be wrong, but if it's plastic, I find it hard to believe it's any older than the 60's. As in the 50's it was more common for such things to be a ceramic of some kind, or even sculpted from stone. It's simply amazing though.

Any markings at all?

[Ridureyu]

No markings that I could find. And '60s makes sense, but there's really no way to even try to date it otherwise. I'll try to look for any markings, though.

[imperfecz]

Just send it to me aI want to make a mold and shoot it back to you with some sample casts.... I can't stop looking at it it's awesome!

[bronchuseven]

Yeah, I have to admit this is just fantastic! Wish we knew more about it..

[Ericnilla]

this guy is awesome. he is probably some gift shop figure from the 60's-70's, especially if he is plastic. anything more significant and he would probably be made of some stone or ceramic.

i think we should make some customs of this guy.

GITD would be awesome...

[Ridureyu]

Just send it to me aI want to make a mold and shoot it back to you with some sample casts.... I can't stop looking at it it's awesome!

I might! Send me a PM in the meantime, though.



-My grandmother recently passed away (We had been taking care of her for the last year and a half). She had a pretty big collection of turtles, most of which we split up to give to people she had loved or cared for, or who had cared about her as special little gifts. Her turtles went back to about the 1920s, when she was in college. So that's why I have no idea how to date this one, although I ASSUME her sister, who travelled the world, bought it for her in Japan some time ago.

And yeah, this is one of the turtles we're keeping. Among some of the really sentimental ones (like her first), there's this, which is absolutely visually interesting.

Edited by Ridureyu, 24 June 2011 - 11:39 PM.

[bobbydixon99]

Kinder Eggs did very similar designs in the same colour...animals which from a different angle look like people or faces. So maybe?

[Ridureyu]

Interesting. Do you have any pictures?

[Universal Ruler Supreme]

I think these may be what bobby is thinking about.

http://cgi.ebay.com/...4-/230602614658

[Ridureyu]

Yeah, that's a totally different style.

[Ridureyu]

There was a Dragonball turtle in her collection, only it was the turtle that ROshi kept as a pet, with li'l toddler Gohan sitting on his back.

D'awwwwwww

(No, she was not familiar with the series)

[bobbydixon99]

Sorry yep you are right. Looking at them now its pretty obvious they are nothing like what you have. It has been a while since I last saw them that is my excuse!!

[Ridureyu]

Yeah, I know who that is. I even own the figure - it's Master Roshi from Dragonball. Grandma's collection contained a figure of the turtle Roshi kept as a pet. Relatives kept sending her turtles, you see.

[bronchuseven]

This is a bit off-topic I admit, but check out the baby turtle I found in the forest a few weeks ago:

She went right back into the water after this photo.. I almost wanted to adopt her, but I figured she'd be happier in the forest!

[Merovingian]

Looks like a netsuke to me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netsuke

[Universal Ruler Supreme]

I just don't beleive this is ivory. Rid, are there any apparent signs of a seam? Back then they typically cleaned flashing off better than they do today. What about the 2 holes on the belly? They look like pin points, where it was pressed out of the mold. Or is this just trickery of the photo?

Ivory has a very distinct appearance, and it just doesn't look like it from here.

[Ridureyu]

The two holes on the belly aren't mold injection points. They look like they're almost another face, though they aren't completely.

ALTHOUGH... if it is a Netsuke (not a "real" one, but a gift shop brand), then those holes would be there to "represent" holes on a real one which would have string looped through them.

Edited by Ridureyu, 01 July 2011 - 07:53 PM.

[Universal Ruler Supreme]

ALTHOUGH... if it is a Netsuke (not a "real" one, but a gift shop brand), then those holes would be there to "represent" holes on a real one which would have string looped through them.

AH!! Now that makes a lot of sense. So possibly a remold of an existing Netsuke style figurine?

I didn't mean the holes were injection points though, but literally as I said, the spots where the ejector pins would press the casting from the mold. Like those little circle marks on the back of muscle figures and the like. But your suggestion makes a lot more sense anyway.

[Ridureyu]

They're way too deep to be those little circles, anyway.

[Ridureyu]

I found the NEtsuke again, and now I'm unsure about its material. When I hold it up to my ear and tap with my fingernail, it gives that hollow almost metallic "clink" you get with ceramics or stone or ivory. But it isn't heavy, and it feel slike palstic... I'm unsure! There might be a molding line, but if there is, then the seam is relaly well-hidden. Also, i found the initials "M.F.A." on its clothing.

[Ridureyu]

And here we go, more pics! Enough to justify a second post instead of an edit, at least.

Here it is from a few angles:




Here you can clearly see that it's signed:


In these two pics, you can see what might be a seam or molding line.



Note that it cannot "Stand" without leaning on something. This is, after all, a decorative clasp (sorta, the holes are filled in), not a keshi.


That odd rectangle might be a label. unsure.


Here it is with a MUSCLE:



Again, it doesn't feel like plastic, but it might be plastic. It's very hard to tell.

[bronchuseven]

This might sound a bit odd, but I've found the best way to distinguish between plastic and similar materials is by "tasting" it. As similar as plastic & ceramic might look, sound and feel, they will feel quite different to your tongue.

[imperfecz]

I do that all day! I'm always wondering what materials stuff's made of... so walking around I just taste various stuff! This is why I no longer use public transit....