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| C029 - Collector's item: A magnificent bone and hardwood knobstick. The top is
carved as a human head inscribed with a "map" and legend identifying acupuncture
points.Approx. dimensions: Overall length 36" / 91cm. Diameter of shank 7/8" / 22mm tapering to 5/8" / 18mm |  |
| This is a very sturdy stick, and comfortable in use. It's a modern
reproduction piece, but the construction and workmanship are first class and
it's in excellent condition. | 
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| The head is carved from bone. Of course bone is hollow, so the item can't be
carved from one solid piece. The traditional way to deal with this is to build
the carving blank from several smaller sections, glued and pinned together.
Typically a knob like this will be made from two semi-cylinders capped with a
flat disc - and that's precisely how this one has been put together. I have
examined it closely (even inside, having dismantled and reassembled it!) and I
can confirm that it is real bone. The carving is well executed and highly polished. |
   
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| The inscribed text is headed "THE HEAD MODEL SHOWING FOURKINDS ACUPUNCTURE
POINTS". This is followed by a list of descriptions from which we learn , for
instance, that the points prefixed "LI" refer to "The large intestine meridian
of Yangming". All fascinating stuff! I have seen a few other sticks which are clearly from the same source, although
depicting different subjects, and these have carried price tags of up to £120
GBP. I suspect they come from the Far East, but they are by no means cheap
mass-produced copies. On the left, you can see the head unscrews (although
there's nothing concealed underneath it). |
  
| The dead straight shank is turned from some sort of mahogany-like wood,
although I suspect its natural colour is somewhat lighter than we see here. |
Not an antique, but nonetheless a very collectable stick of high quality. SOLD Return to "Collectors' Sticks" page Return to "Sticks for Sale" page |