Oriental oxen and carriage

[Melodie]

Hi everyone. I wonder if anyone can point me in the right direction to identify this piece that belongs to my mother. I know very little of the history but it looks very old. It came from an elderly lady who worked as a nanny in Paris in her youth. Whilst working for a family with a very large, grand home, she was given this as a gift. This was many years ago and the piece was considered to be an antique then. That is all I know.
The piece is made of wood with Jesso applied then painted. The roof of the carriage lifts off and the driver comes out although everything else is fixed. It is in good condition other than a couple of spokes are missing from the wheels and paint shows signs of wear and age.
I apologise for the busy background in the pictures but I hope you can get a good idea from them. If anyone can give me an idea of where to start my search I would greatly appreciate it, nationality, likely age, anything will help. I have done an image search on Google, with the terms Gesso, oriental, oxen carriage. But haven't found anything remotely similar. I will ask mum to send me some better pictures but these are all I have for now.
Thanks in advance

[Ipcress]

I think this is more Indian, Middle East Asia than from the Orient. Superb though, even if the images are blurred 

My initial guess would be late 19th / early 20th but i shall have a search later.

[Melodie]

Thank you so much Ippy. Yes sorry about picture quality 

[mart]

I agree with Ipcress,, looks like from India or that area !! 

[talesofthesevenseas]

India or maybe Thailand. I found similar looking carts/sedan chairs and similar looking oxen in both places when I ran Google image searches. Whatever it is, this is REALLY cool!

[Ipcress]

Can i have an image of the side of the carriage and the base please ?

Pity about the restored column

[Melodie]

Thanks Mart, Tales and Ipcress 

Wow Ipcress how did I not notice that column? It's so obvious now you point it out! Specsavers for me.

I will post the pics you asked for tomorrow.

Thanks again.

[bigwull]

Can i have an image of the side of the carriage and the base please ?

Pity about the restored column

from now on...i,ll be calling you Hawkeye.... ....and to answer your last ?..from its heavy.....yes resin burns lovely...especially ...the Moroccan kind...

[Melodie]

More pics.

[Melodie]

Another

[Melodie]

Again

[Melodie]

And again

[Melodie]

Last ones. But I've got more.

[talesofthesevenseas]

I have an idea. Try contacting the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Let them know that you'd just like to know WHAT it is, that you're not looking to donate or get an appraisal, you just want to identify its approximate age and origins and to be able to take care of it, since it looks like it might be something special. Include links to a couple of photos. You will need to upload them onto Photobucket or a similar photo upload site. In the "I have a question about" menu, select "Art Appraisals and Conservation". Let us know what the response is.

http://www.asianart.org/about/contact-us-form

[Ipcress]

Thanks for the better images. Becoming clearer now.


Something's telling me Mongol, Genghis Khan.

This is one of their ceremonial hats



Damage to faces, wheel spokes. Still a very nice thing and i'm now beginning to think it is European in manufacture, not Asian, but still early 20th at the latest. Similar to early toy manufacturers like Elastolin.