Whetstone Finial

This whetstone finial is in the shape of the head, neck, and foreparts of an ibex mounted on a cylindrical socket. The ibex has curving horns, with four raised bumps on the exterior side of each, that curve back to connect to the neck. Its pointed, leaf-shaped ears are separated from the head. Its eyes are represented by a large raised circle with a slightly smaller raised circle for the pupil. Its rod-like beard connects to the neck; there is a concavity under the chin behind the beard. Molded forelimbs are disproportionately small, spindly, and integral to the cast of the socket. The socket flares slightly toward the end, which has a raised band. There is a circular hole on either side near the end (not well preserved on one due to chipping) for attachment to the whetstone itself.