Help finding out what a symbol/carving means.

[Drunk Skunk]

My uncle fought in the Vietnam War, and one of the things he brought back was a small, ivory sculpture. It sits on a piece of wood. On the left is a monkey with the "see no evil" gesture, and on the right is a monkey with the "hear no evil." In the middle if a very intricate carving that has an odd deer-type creature next to a tree.

How do I go about finding out if this has any significant meaning?

[4X4]

I'm sure I have no answer to your question, but I'd like to see the carving. Pic please.

[Drunk Skunk]

Here is the central carving, I removed it from the piece of wood for the photo. The dark brown is the old glue that holds it on.

[blankall]

Seems like 2 of the "three wise monkeys":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_wise_monkeys

not sure about the deer and tree though.

[Locke]

Crap no evil?

[FurnaceFace]

Hard to tell in the picture, but isn't the um thing to the left of the tree the speak no evil monkey?

The Nikko shrine where these originate from is in a forested area and the deer could just be part of the normal landscape back when this was created.

[loob job]

I see the goat/deer thing and the tree but there's no way I can see any monkeys anywhere.

[Rathji]

On the left of the tree, its head touching the outer ring and its arms touching the tree.

Maybe the carver was stoned when he made it.

[Coach]

maybe theres someone at the university that can help. Like an anthropology prof or something