Marble/Granite shallow dish with a bronze snake and a terrapin

[Fizzeh]

We have done some research about this shallow dish that is made entirely out of either dark marble or granite. (Ridiculously heavy!) There was an old beer mat stuck to the bottom of this piece with "Abbott" written on the back of it - barely legible.



Although it was a lot of guesswork, the bronze snake and terrapin seem to represent an old Chinese legend about a white snake and a terrapin - the name of the terrapin once turned into a human in the story is "Abott Fahai". We have no idea how old it is or who made it or where it comes from so any help at all would be really great! My Dad bought it at an auction today and we haven't a clue what it is.

[mart]

Anything on the bottom ?? Very unusual !!  What is the size /depth ??

[KC]

Looks like a decorative ashtray made to sit on a coffee table!

I agree this is most likely about the Chinese legend of the White Snake!  So, I bet this was (drum roll) Made in China!  Sometimes you will see it with two snake (in the legend there is a green snake as well).

[bigwull]

Looks like a decorative ashtray made to sit on a coffee table!

I agree this is most likely about the Chinese legend of the White Snake!  So, I bet this was (drum roll) Made in China!  Sometimes you will see it with two snake (in the legend there is a green snake as well).

   Made in China....Your Expansive knowledge....never ceases to amaze me KC.....

[mart]

Ash tray is what I am thinking too !!  Have seen several stone ones but they were plain !!

[greenacres]

It's probably the 70's . This was my grandparents. She had a black one also.

[KC]

I know Wullie....it sometimes scare me how vast my knowledge is!  LOLOL

[Fizzeh]

Sorry for the absence! We have been away in the south.
I am not sure of it being an ash tray, simply because of the size of it. It's about a foot and a half across, as large as a dinner plate. Thank you for all of your answers!

[Kevin_Bones]

That's an awesome piece. I would love to have that for a tray to feed my snake on!!! 

[mart]

Sorry for the absence! We have been away in the south.
I am not sure of it being an ash tray, simply because of the size of it. It's about a foot and a half across, as large as a dinner plate. Thank you for all of your answers!

A foot and a half would be much larger than a dinner plate !!  Standard dinner plates are 10 inches or charger size at 12 in.  The ashtrays back then were about 10 inches give or take a bit !! Smoking was an accepted activity and those ash trays were designed to take center stage on your coffee table !!

[Fizzeh]

It is pretty cool looking! haha forgive my measurement inaccuracies. My dad usually puts these things in the car to take to his auctions and fares so I can't actually measure it for you.

Ash tray does seem like the most viable option right now from what you say.

[bigwull]

Sorry for the absence! We have been away in the south.
I am not sure of it being an ash tray, simply because of the size of it. It's about a foot and a half across, as large as a dinner plate. Thank you for all of your answers!

A foot and a half would be much larger than a dinner plate !!  Standard dinner plates are 10 inches or charger size at 12 in.  The ashtrays back then were about 10 inches give or take a bit !! Smoking was an accepted activity and those ash trays were designed to take center stage on your coffee table !!

still do in some houiseholds....

[mart]

True !!  But back then it was more of a social activity !!