What is this thing?

July 16, 2015 1:26 PM

Asking for a tattoo artist.

Hopefully this image hosting works. Here's the link: http://postimg.org/image/mmj2o8brl/

A friend is a tattoo artist and the woman who owns a Bubble Tea cart near the tattoo studio wants a tattoo of this. My friend can't understand her client's English well enough to figure out what this is. She suspects it's an item of Religious or Cultural significance.

Thanks!

posted by dchrssyr to Science & Nature (6 answers total)

I'm going to throw an "Ew gross" warning right here at the top of the thread for anyone who might not be prepared for grossness.
posted by mudpuppie at 1:32 PM on July 16, 2015 [7 favorites]

Perhaps some kind of old, dilapidated chicken feet?
posted by rocketpup at 1:37 PM on July 16, 2015

Any other helpful clues? a wider shot for context/size would be helpful. I'm assuming the bubble tea seller is asian/chinese but can your friend confirm (again this might help narrow the options)
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:50 PM on July 16, 2015

Response by poster: Mystery solved by another source. The bubble tea lady is Thai and the item in question is snake fangs. Should make an interesting tattoo. Anyone know the significance of snake fangs in Thai culture? Might help my friend to understand the context of the tattoo.
posted by dchrssyr at 1:58 PM on July 16, 2015 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Yantra tattooing is a thing, and mythological Naga are a thing, looking up thai snake symbolism:

If a Thai woman dreams and sees a snake during a dream, she will find the man of her life in the next coming days.
If a Thai woman dreams being bitten or crushed by a snake, this means she is about to be united with her true love.
If somebody sees a snake going in front of him, he will receive money in the next coming days.
If a big snake is staying in the temple and sleeps there, it is a spirit coming back.


(Although there's no guarantee that website is accurate or complete.)
posted by sebastienbailard at 9:37 PM on July 16, 2015 [1 favorite]

Looks like some sort of a jaw bone, but the sharp teeth seem to be in the wrong place?
posted by kschang at 8:59 AM on July 17, 2015