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Regarding the objects, a triple fox-snout pouch stash bag[0] is quite an item. Why the snout? Implications of sensitivity and a conveniently pre-angled form? Wh

Regarding the objects, a triple fox-snout pouch stash bag[0] is quite an item. Why the snout? Implications of sensitivity and a conveniently pre-angled form? Why the fox? According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxes_in_popular_culture#Americas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxes_in_popular_culture#Ameri... at least one South American society believed the fox to be a warrior that would use his mind to fight. The fox would not ever use physical attack, only mental. Potentially a sort of a professional deity of a shamanic class, then. Lovely iconography on the wooden utensil[1] with a pair of people in comfortable looking robes and differing posture. Could this be suggestive of paired consumption or a guided experience? Could the void-like gap for face indicate ideas associated with possession or channeling, eg. a symbolic "not-self" or implication of self-departure? In the absence of additional finds, I suppose surviving modern shamanistic rites of the region might only provide minimal evidence toward a tenuous interpretation. [0] https://3c1703fe8d.site.internapcdn.net/newman/gfx/news/hires/2019/1-ancientritua.jpg https://3c1703fe8d.site.internapcdn.net/newman/gfx/news/hire... [1] https://3c1703fe8d.site.internapcdn.net/newman/gfx/news/hires/2019/2-ancientritua.jpg https://3c1703fe8d.site.internapcdn.net/newman/gfx/news/hire...

fire-side 8y ago
The utensil definitely gives the impression of two figures dressed in robes, clutching each other by the arm, while sitting together, in front of a fire. I think it's a little much to imbue deeper meaning upon representational qualities of the sculptural detail or lack thereof. One cannot know the rational basis for stylistic choices made during the crafting of the object, unless there's deeper context lent by other facts. It could simply be limitations of the medium, such as durability of fine detail balanced against practical daily use. Hence why the hands and feet also lack realistic detail. Or it could simply be a limitation of the carving skills of the owner. Maybe they simply weren't very proud of the faces, hands and feet they've attempted on other objects. It's a common progression that after the skill of posed stick figures develops, then eventually hands, feet and faces develop more slowly. Usually all parts of faces (eyes, nose, mouth, ears, then whole proportions) develop first, in a generalizable, idealized form. Then hands (gestural and used in combination with facial expression), and recognizable facial resemblance and unique identity. Feet last.
unixbeard1337 8y ago
Lots of weird fox lore around the world. In Chinese folklore, they can pass for human (often as attractive women) and ensnare people in various wiles.
- kibibu 8y ago
  I didn't realize that that Love, Death + Robots episode was based on folklore. That makes it even better
- dougk16 8y ago
  Reminds me of the aguara from the Witcher series. https://witcher.fandom.com/wiki/Aguara https://witcher.fandom.com/wiki/Aguara
- krackers 8y ago
  Japan has also got some interesting fox lore that's probably partly inherited from the chinese [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsune https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsune
- felixyz 8y ago
  One of the segments in Kurosawa's "Dreams" is about "the fox's wedding" (kitsune no yomeiri). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreams_(1990_film)#Sunshine_Through_The_Rain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreams_(1990_film)#Sunshine_Th...

fire-side 8y ago

The utensil definitely gives the impression of two figures dressed in robes, clutching each other by the arm, while sitting together, in front of a fire. I think it's a little much to imbue deeper meaning upon representational qualities of the sculptural detail or lack thereof. One cannot know the rational basis for stylistic choices made during the crafting of the object, unless there's deeper context lent by other facts. It could simply be limitations of the medium, such as durability of fine detail balanced against practical daily use. Hence why the hands and feet also lack realistic detail. Or it could simply be a limitation of the carving skills of the owner. Maybe they simply weren't very proud of the faces, hands and feet they've attempted on other objects. It's a common progression that after the skill of posed stick figures develops, then eventually hands, feet and faces develop more slowly. Usually all parts of faces (eyes, nose, mouth, ears, then whole proportions) develop first, in a generalizable, idealized form. Then hands (gestural and used in combination with facial expression), and recognizable facial resemblance and unique identity. Feet last.

unixbeard1337 8y ago

Lots of weird fox lore around the world. In Chinese folklore, they can pass for human (often as attractive women) and ensnare people in various wiles.

kibibu 8y ago
I didn't realize that that Love, Death + Robots episode was based on folklore. That makes it even better
dougk16 8y ago
Reminds me of the aguara from the Witcher series. https://witcher.fandom.com/wiki/Aguara https://witcher.fandom.com/wiki/Aguara
krackers 8y ago
Japan has also got some interesting fox lore that's probably partly inherited from the chinese [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsune https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsune
felixyz 8y ago
One of the segments in Kurosawa's "Dreams" is about "the fox's wedding" (kitsune no yomeiri). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreams_(1990_film)#Sunshine_Through_The_Rain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreams_(1990_film)#Sunshine_Th...