What is this carving / symbol?

[BurblingBrownOne]

Found on the shelf of a reclaimed hardwood coffee table I have.
Just for sts and giggles, internet bragging points to anyone who can offer a serious suggestion - does it have any particular meaning - is it any particular type of symbolism?
Or is it just a copy of a young kids fridge door artwork crudely hacked into an old railway sleeper?

Edited by BurblingBrownOne on Monday 2nd October 16:29

[gobuddygo]

Pic would be nice :-)

[BurblingBrownOne]

Edited due to interweb formatting cluelessness

[Cold]

That's the wrong way up.

[Your Dad]

It's ancient Zulu, being inscribed on a coffee table it translates as:

Throw keys in wooden fruit bowl, make way upstairs with wife of other man.

[carrottop]

Ancient depiction of 'The early bird catches the worm'

[BurblingBrownOne]

Your Dad said:

It's ancient Zulu, being inscribed on a coffee table it translates as:

Throw keys in wooden fruit bowl, make way upstairs with wife of other man.

Im pretty sure most Zulu buildings are bungalows

[stuartmmcfc]

Ancient gypsy trick.
While you look at it, scratching your chin in puzzlement, they will jump out and bum you.
Forerunner to “the 2 dogs” trick.

[lucido grigio]

The top bit is an ancient Renault symbol....

[Riley Blue]

It is indeed African, it's an early form of tribal satnav for river travel. At the bottom is the mighty Zambezi River flowing west to east into the Indian Ocean. Next up is its winding course across the plains and at the top is the symbol for 'You have reached your destination' - a canoe in its mooring place.

Or it could be a completely random doodle.

[Dogwatch]

Having seen the state of some railway sleepers in the past I certainly wouldn't want one from a passenger line in my living room. Goods siding possibly - but reluctantly.

[BurblingBrownOne]

That’s sorted then, basically it’s an ancient African / Gypsy invitation to get in the back of my Renault 5 for some forced extra marital bumfun….thought as much.

Edited by BurblingBrownOne on Monday 2nd October 17:46

[glenrobbo]

It is clearly an Innuit scrimshaw piece carved in Aleutian Aboriginal style on a piece of Royal Navy oak frame taken from the crushed hull of HMS Terror, one of the vessels lost during Franklin's ill-fated expedition to find the fabled Northwest Passage.

The artwork depicts in a rather primitive but honest style, the tale of the doomed crew, their forlorn quest to return to safety, and the sorry end of the poisoned, starving men, who all unwittingly perished only 20 miles from the nearest shopping mall.


Edit: This piece would be quite valuable to a specialist collector, but unfortunately it is the property of the Admiralty and should be returned forthwith. There may also be a fine to pay in respect of defacing Crown property.

Edited by glenrobbo on Monday 2nd October 20:28

[BurblingBrownOne]

glenrobbo said:

It is clearly an Innuit scrimshaw piece carved in Aleutian Aboriginal style on a piece of Royal Navy oak frame taken from the crushed hull of HMS Terror, one of the vessels lost during Franklin's ill-fated expedition to find the fabled Northwest Passage.

The artwork depicts in a rather primitive but honest style, the tale of the doomed crew, their forlorn quest to return to safety, and the sorry end of the poisoned, starving men, who all unwittingly perished only 20 miles from the nearest shopping mall.


Edit: This piece would be quite valuable to a specialist collector, but unfortunately it is the property of the Admiralty and should be returned forthwith. There may also be a fine to pay in respect of defacing Crown property.

Edited by glenrobbo on Monday 2nd October 20:28

What no Bumming?

[talksthetorque]

Egyptian. It says "Lift to tilt"

[carrottop]

It's the judges panel from BGT (Botswana's Got Talent)

[stuartmmcfc]

BurblingBrownOne said:

What no Bumming?

You sound disappointed?

[glenrobbo]

stuartmmcfc said:

BurblingBrownOne said:

What no Bumming?

You sound disappointed?

OP, I believe specialist services are available by enquiring on-line, or enrolling at a private school, or becoming a high level politician's personal assistant.
I am not sure if it will be the capical B or lower case though.

[kowalski655]

It is a marker to give directions to aliens from the planet Zxrtydew,and you've activated it: if you look outside you will find a large space ship, and Captain Drghtyxz waiting for you.

BTW that probe he is holding.... nothing to worry about, honest!