Thanks for the comments , folks .
I am somewhat of a 'mentor' for the friend who'll receive this item soon .
It's part of my sick role in the relationship to torture the lad , when it comes to researching antique items , a role I frequently engage in .
He comes to this forum as a guest , although he does not know that I'm a member .
All that being said , I don't want him to get too many clues from me here .
What I can say is that the former owner purchased this item years ago in Thailand & had it shipped to the U.S. ; very much like a number of items I've purchased in 2009 , there were issues about this thing between a husband & wife .
Husband capitulated , and domestic tranquility returned .
Seems like a part of the history of this item ( including similar in Thailand ) - husbands love it , wives not so much .
It's a heavy old dude that's hard (could be rosewood), prob two pieces - one for body & tree , one for head .
Hand-painted (with a couple of very small latter-day touch-ups) , but not quite as garish as it appears in the posted image (should have photo-shopped it &/or done good lighting ) .
