Help identify figure on yardsale find

[Hallbottle]

I had a great day yardsaling Saturday, picked up lots of stuff including bottles, fruit jars and a bunch of old tools amongst other things. I got this solid brass letter opener with this strange figure on the top, haven't been able to find anything to indicate what culture or perhaps religon this figure belongs to. Hoping someone out there knows.

 

[surfaceone]

Hey Joe,

Looks like it could be a Garuda. Perhaps better, properly oriented photos might help.

Garuda is a Buddhist and Hindu deity.

 

[Hallbottle]

Thanks, I'll check that out. I did look at alot of Hindu figures but didn't see one like this. Here it is re-oriented

 

[botlguy]

It looks fertility related to me. Silly heathens!

 

[ironmountain]

is there a leg on the backside? I was thinking a version of Hanuman (no, not the Rodrigo y Gabriela song) or a vanara. It looks like a monkey with a head covering. the right hand on your figure looks like a serpent, or is it an actual hand? is there a leg in the back of the figure, or is it just one legged?

interesting piece nonetheless

 

[AntiqueMeds]

looks like the monkey god Hanuman

 

[Hallbottle]

The right hand is definitely a serpents head. No leg in back as seen in picture. I looked at lots of images of Hanuman and although I did not find one that looks like this one the images are all over the place so it could be.

 

[AntiqueMeds]

The indian gods vary a lot since they are drawn from imagination.
Hanuman is often shown holding a club which this one looks to have.

 

[Hallbottle]

I believe you are correct, thanks for the info.

 

[surfaceone]

Hanuman is a shape shifter...

Good call, Matt.