Identify this woodcarving

[ceptimus]

I found it in a skip a few years ago. It's about two feet wide. It's definitely made of wood (I carved off a small sliver where the carving is deeply undercut to check) The gold paint looks like it may have been recently (and inexpertly) applied.

Anyone have any idea what it might be, or what it is supposed to represent?

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/ceptimus/freethought/pics/carving/1.jpg

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/ceptimus/freethought/pics/carving/2.jpg

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/ceptimus/freethought/pics/carving/3.jpg

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/ceptimus/freethought/pics/carving/4.jpg

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/ceptimus/freethought/pics/carving/5.jpg

[Nullifidian]

If you will allow a truly inexpert opinion filtered, no doubt, through my area of expertise (Arab and ME history), I think it's a scene from al-Qur'an depicted by a Persian artist.

The seated angel on a horse is, I believe, supposed to be the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) on his mount, Haizum. If I'm right, then he is giving some sort of tablet to Muhammad, who is depicted, as is common in the Persian tradition, as a real person but veiled, which is why he has no facial features unlike the rest of the group. Compare the contour of the wings to other depictions of Jibril in Persian art, and you'll see a striking similarity.

If I could interpret what the rest of the secondary characters were doing, that would go a long way to finding out what actual event from al-Qur'an this wood carving depicts.

However, I reserve the right to be completely and utterly mistaken. :)

[LadyShea]

Is there anything on the back? Writing or code of any kind?

[ceptimus]

Is there anything on the back? Writing or code of any kind?
I photographed the back with a measuring tape for scale. As you can see, there isn't much in the way of markings - the 'plank' that the carving is made from is only loosely attached to the rudimentary frame - you can see there is a gap between the carving and the frame in places.

The only marking seems to be a small stamp that shows maybe a price or a reference number of some kind?

I think that 'a skip' is our UK name for a dumpster.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/ceptimus/freethought/pics/carving/6.jpg

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/ceptimus/freethought/pics/carving/7.jpg

[Ymir's blood]

The rooftop style in the upper left corner makes me think it is Chinese.

[Nullifidian]

Yes, that stamp on the back is definitely Chinese.

I can't recall any winged figures on horses in any Chinese mythology, so I'm sticking to my initial assessment (although it's obviously not Persian, of course). Perhaps it's from the Uyghur (minority Muslim population) of Xinjiang?

[livius drusus]

Ya, the figures look more terracotta warrior than Islamic to me.

ETA: x-post

[seebs]

I was thinking Chinese from the rooftop, the stamp on the back makes it clear. I think.

[Angakuk]

What a lot of ignorant gits you are. That is definitely a carving done from a photograph taken at my ordination party. Nullifidian is correct in his identification of the angel as Gabriel. The book in Gabriel's hand is a collection of sermons delivered to me from the hand of God to insure that I would preach only His untarnished word. I commissioned that particular carving and it was stolen from my office by a drug smuggling anglo/chinese atheist theif. It's mine, damn it and I want it back!

[livius drusus]

Run away, cep! The Lutherans are coming for you!1