Can anyone tell me what this is?

[Sunshine]

When I first saw it, it was lying on the tray. I stood it up to get a better picture. And the tray seems to go with the item.

 

[Sunshine]

My brother thought it might be some kind of helmet. But I don't think it is large enough for that.

 

[Truthmatters]

Its hollow?

 

[Sunshine]

I took this pic in an antique store in Virginia. I was going to inquire, but got into buying a pair of aquamarine earrings and completely forgot.

Just a shot in the dark but I'm thinking Mezoamerican. Could be completely wrong but that's the impression I was left with when I saw it.

It's actually a politician from antiquity. He had his head so far up his ass he didn't notice the volcanic eruption and was sealed in molten lava. A craftsmen later made a mold and encased him in brass to assure future pols would avoid putting their head so far up their ass. Sadly, Congress never got the memo.

OMG! That's funny!

 

[Mad Scientist]

When I first saw it, it was lying on the tray. I stood it up to get a better picture.

It was originally lying down? So perhaps it was some sort of head rest... For Dead People!

EDIT: Like this Chinese Headrest.

 

[Sunshine]

Its hollow?

Yes. Not heavy, but not flimsey either.

 

[Sunshine]

When I first saw it, it was lying on the tray. I stood it up to get a better picture.

It was originally lying down? So perhaps it was some sort of head rest... For Dead People!

Oh my!

You could be onto something:

http://www.learner.org/courses/globalart/work/243/index.html

Not exactly the same, though

There are lots of pics of embalmer's head rests. They look far more utilitarian than this. This seems a bit too fancy. But I don't know.

 

[Si modo]

I know, but googles reverse image search doesn't just look for the identical pic, but anything similar.

I tried it and got zip.

It was in the antique store almost next door to the Vienna Inn restaurant.

Vienna Inn - serving the locals of Vienna, Virginia since 1960

I don't recall the name of the store. There were a couple side by side.

Does Pear Tree Cottage ring a bell?

Pear Tree Cottage [Home]

 

[Marie888]

If it's not that expensive, I say buy it and bring to the next Antique Road Show that comes in town near you! They can't give evaluations over the phone, but this link helps to direct where to ask ahead of time.

Frequently Asked Questions - Antique Road Show

FAQ | Antiques Roadshow | PBS


LOL, or if anything, a great conversation piece!

 

[bobcollum]

It's always possible that it has no practical purpose, just decoration.

 

[Sunshine]

I tried it and got zip.

It was in the antique store almost next door to the Vienna Inn restaurant.

Vienna Inn - serving the locals of Vienna, Virginia since 1960

I don't recall the name of the store. There were a couple side by side.

Does Pear Tree Cottage ring a bell?

Pear Tree Cottage [Home]

Sort of. There were two stores side by side and one had a lot of stuff outside. One was more of a furniture place and the other was more smaller items.

 

[Sunshine]

If it's not that expensive, I say buy it and bring to the next Antique Road Show that comes in town near you! They can't give evaluations over the phone, but this link helps to direct where to ask ahead of time.

Frequently Asked Questions - Antique Road Show

FAQ | Antiques Roadshow | PBS


LOL, or if anything, a great conversation piece!

I don't recall the price, but it will be a while before I get back to Vienna VA.

 

[Missourian]

I took this pic in an antique store in Virginia. I was going to inquire, but got into buying a pair of aquamarine earrings and completely forgot.

I think this might be a very ornate example of an African Manilla or African Ring Currency/Bracelet Money.

Manillas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Scott Semans: For Sale: Africa Bracelet Money

Igbo Copper Anklet Antique African Currency Bracelet | eBay