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Author Topic: Does this statuette look familiar?  (Read 13897 times)

Monkeyleg

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Does this statuette look familiar?
« on: October 01, 2011, 12:30:21 AM »
I've been trying to figure out what the statuette knife in the movie "Wait Until Dark" actually looks like. When Harold Tuttle posted a photo of Venus Capitoline, I was certain he'd found it.

A little more fussing with the DVD, screen shots, sharpening and density levels, and I came up with the closeups of the statuette below. It's not a Venus statue of any kind. It looks like some sort of Wonder Woman take-off or something like that.

The material in the crotch area has folds, and it goes up in a "v", over the hips, and falls straight down the back, covering the butt and legs completely in the rear. At the shoulders there appears to be a stand-up collar. Around the breasts it looks like there's a v-shaped opening in the fabric, covering the breasts.

I thought the hair was just high, but it looks like there's a crown of some type (or a Wonder Woman-style head dress).

So, I don't know what it is. Any ideas?



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BobR

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2011, 03:33:45 AM »
To me it has the look of either southeast Asia such as Thailand or Cambodia or Indian (Hindu). The headpiece kind of leans towards India to me.

bob
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lee n. field

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2011, 06:33:44 AM »

Looks like an idol of some sort. Venus of Willendorf after she lost weight.
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zxcvbob

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2011, 07:41:01 AM »
"I Dream of Jeannie"
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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2011, 07:48:27 AM »
Quote from: BobR on October 01, 2011, 03:33:45 AM
To me it has the look of either southeast Asia such as Thailand or Cambodia or Indian (Hindu). The headpiece kind of leans towards India to me.

bob

I agree with BobR.  It looks like something from SE Asia or India.
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Perd Hapley

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2011, 10:34:18 AM »
Is it Geraldine Ferraro?
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Monkeyleg

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2011, 12:05:18 PM »
I don't think Geraldine Ferraro ever looked that good. I doubt that she does now.

I know what those who are saying Indonesian or other SE Asian are thinking: that the headdress is a full frontal piece. It's not. It has a head band and then three pieces coming up from the band in the front. The rest is hair.

I'll look at SE Asian, though.

The turned up collar is weird, though. Maybe SE Asian version of a female Elvis impersonator?
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lee n. field

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2011, 12:58:20 PM »
Quote from: Monkeyleg on October 01, 2011, 12:05:18 PM
I don't think Geraldine Ferraro ever looked that good. I doubt that she does now.

Dead, now.

Quote
I know what those who are saying Indonesian or other SE Asian are thinking: that the headdress is a full frontal piece. It's not. It has a head band and then three pieces coming up from the band in the front. The rest is hair.

I'll look at SE Asian, though.

The turned up collar is weird, though. Maybe SE Asian version of a female Elvis impersonator?

Carmen Miranda?
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AZRedhawk44

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #8 on: October 01, 2011, 01:20:31 PM »
Another vote for Indian, Southeast Asian.  Especially with the emphasized ears and nose.
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Monkeyleg

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #9 on: October 01, 2011, 07:06:37 PM »
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Dead, now.

I know, that's why I doubt she looks that good now. And I don't propose we dig her up to find out. ;)

Carmen Miranda? You see bananas in there?
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lee n. field

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #10 on: October 01, 2011, 08:27:43 PM »
I don't see enough details in the pictures to distinguish fruit.
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Harold Tuttle

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #11 on: October 01, 2011, 11:21:37 PM »
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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #12 on: October 02, 2011, 12:08:36 AM »
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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #13 on: October 02, 2011, 12:47:32 AM »
Carmen SanDiego?

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Monkeyleg

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #14 on: October 02, 2011, 12:55:18 AM »
Sorry, folks. No cigar yet.

I've spent untold number of hours searching for photos of statues, statuettes, and figurines. I've looked at probably  every depiction of a naked or partially naked woman in the history of art. Nothing even comes close now that I have the photos above.

Asian statues have much more going on in terms of headdresses, arms, etc. This is too plain. It's also too dressed (collar, clothing around groin) to be Greek. It's not as stylized as Egyptian.

I think it's Princess Di wearing an Elvis jacket, a tiara, and a 1950's bathing suit.
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Perd Hapley

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #15 on: October 02, 2011, 02:38:05 AM »
Quote from: Monkeyleg on October 02, 2011, 12:55:18 AM
I think it's Princess Di wearing an Elvis jacket, a tiara, and a 1950's bathing suit.

Then go with that. It's your knife. Just pick something already.
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Monkeyleg

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #16 on: October 02, 2011, 03:00:09 AM »
Fistful, it's going to take a lot of time to make this. I'd hate to get it done after tons of work, say it's a replica of the knife from the movie only to have someone say, "oh, no, the knife in the movie was a little Rita Hayworth doll that they sold at Woolworths in the 1950's."

I joined a couple of art forums and asked at those. I didn't get any replies, though. I think this is too low-brow for them. If she had a head shaped like a trapezoid I might get a better response.
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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #17 on: October 02, 2011, 03:18:44 AM »
There's got to be a classic movie forum out there ...
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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #18 on: October 02, 2011, 08:48:42 AM »
My guess is that it's a representation of Kali.

« Last Edit: October 02, 2011, 08:51:45 AM by Mike Irwin »
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Monkeyleg

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #19 on: October 02, 2011, 10:58:34 AM »
My statue only has two arms, Mike. Or is this the Kali you were thinking of? ;)

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There's got to be a classic movie forum out there ...

I'm guessing I've read every one that makes any reference to "Wait Until Dark" or "Geraldine".

The prop person was already in his late 60's when this was made in 1967. I doubt he's around now.

Every switchblade forum that mentions it has people saying they'd love to have it. There's one post by one member on one forum in which he says he got it at an auction, but he never mentions it again. From reading his other posts, I'm inclined to think he was slinging bull. I've never seen any other reference to the knife's existence.

I know I can annoy people with things like this, as I get blinders on, as my wife puts it. My gut says to just do a nude Greek goddess, but then that would defeat the purpose of having a replica made. It would just be a Greek goddess statue (and an expensive one) with a blade in it.
« Last Edit: October 02, 2011, 11:04:36 AM by Monkeyleg »
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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #20 on: October 02, 2011, 12:51:04 PM »
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I've looked at probably  every depiction of a naked or partially naked woman in the history of art.

I admire your diligence  ;)
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zxcvbob

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #21 on: October 02, 2011, 02:23:19 PM »
The larger, blurry picture kind of looks like she has a penis.   :O
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Monkeyleg

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #22 on: October 02, 2011, 04:28:24 PM »
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The larger, blurry picture kind of looks like she has a penis.

I know. I think that may be some jewelry or other objects strung to the cord belt that is visible in back, but not in these frontal shots. You can see the cord in this photo:



If you look at this shot, as well as some of the other frontal shots, it looks as though she has some bicep bracelets on. 
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Harold Tuttle

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #23 on: October 02, 2011, 06:06:33 PM »
she's a thai buddhist figurine
probably from the tourist trade and found in italy at a market
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Perd Hapley

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Re: Does this statuette look familiar?
« Reply #24 on: October 02, 2011, 06:13:29 PM »
Quote from: Harold Tuttle on October 02, 2011, 06:06:33 PM
she's a thai buddhist figurine
probably from the tourist trade and found in italy at a market

Yeah, now make up some kind of proof of this, just to shut him up.  =)



Monkeyleg, have you thought about contacting anyone else involved with the film? (other than the prop guy)


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