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 A Whatzit
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| Author | Topic: A Whatzit |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 12-01-2005 06:53 AM
  
[01-2475] It has been a while since my last Whatzit post. I came across these while going through a 1890 Gorham catalog. As usual if you know please let those who want to guess an opportunity to post first. IP: Logged |
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Patrick Vyvyan Posts: 640 |
posted 12-01-2005 07:42 AM
A few months ago I saw a rather unforgetable television program on body piercing etc. One guy had metal studs drilled into his skull - they would have been a whole lot cooler in Gorham sterling. IP: Logged |
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outwest Posts: 390 |
posted 12-01-2005 12:18 PM
Drawer pulls...no, there is no back to them. Cork tops to make your wine bottles prettier? IP: Logged |
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Viper Posts: 10 |
posted 12-01-2005 01:01 PM
Hollowware finials. Tea pots, covered bowl and such. IP: Logged |
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wev Moderator Posts: 4121 |
posted 12-01-2005 01:26 PM
Drapery pullbacks IP: Logged |
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wev Moderator Posts: 4121 |
posted 12-01-2005 01:27 PM
Labour intensive corn cob holders IP: Logged |
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Clive E Taylor Posts: 450 |
posted 12-01-2005 02:54 PM
Corkscrews for teetotalers IP: Logged |
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tmockait Posts: 963 |
posted 12-01-2005 03:57 PM
They look like wood screws, so I think they might have been the decorative ends for Curtain or drappery poles. Tom IP: Logged |
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jt251 Posts: 25 |
posted 12-02-2005 08:22 PM
I'll cast my vote for holloware finials too. I have an English piece circa 1890s with a screw on finial on the lid. It is attached with a tiny wing nut containing the lion passant and another hallmark (I can't remember which one). I've always been curious as to why these were made this way. Anyone know? Thanks! IP: Logged |
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tmockait Posts: 963 |
posted 12-02-2005 08:28 PM
Except that these have wood screws as indicated by the thread and the point at the end. They are not designed for a wing nut. Tom IP: Logged |
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outwest Posts: 390 |
posted 12-02-2005 10:27 PM
Maybe they're curtain rod ends, but who would want to climb up on a ladder and polish them? That's not very practical. After looking at them again I think they could be drawer pulls for small, light use drawers. Or the fancy winebottle corktop. IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 12-03-2005 01:21 AM
Perhaps they are for large pieces of fruit. The piece could be lifted from a buffet, and then cut and served. IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 12-03-2005 10:06 AM
Is it time for a hint or the answer? IP: Logged |
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tmockait Posts: 963 |
posted 12-03-2005 11:22 AM
Well, if your rich enough to have silver curtain rod decorations, your servants would polish them. Yes, give us that hint! IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 12-03-2005 02:01 PM
I have heard dealers selling them for all of the above including for pulling the little cork stoppers in perfume bottles. Those who are exploring the food angle are in line with the Gorham catalogue. IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 12-03-2005 04:02 PM
Hint : Another "whatzit" which also has been discussed on this forum -- both are for the same food. IP: Logged |
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ahwt Posts: 2334 |
posted 12-03-2005 04:25 PM
They could be used for holding cheese while cutting with a knife or scooping with a cheese scoop. Of course scooping would only be for Stilton. IP: Logged |
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outwest Posts: 390 |
posted 12-04-2005 12:43 AM
Corn cob holders! IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 12-04-2005 02:02 AM
Since the thread is getting long and we have corn holders twice, on the 1st and the 4th, it would appear it is time for the answer. IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 12-04-2005 03:56 AM
 IP: Logged |
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outwest Posts: 390 |
posted 12-04-2005 11:33 PM
Oh, puleeese  I guess I should have guessed something to do with a cheese ball (and cheese ball holder?). It really is too funny. Cheese must have been a big deal to those Victorians. Would you carry your cheese ball around with you this way? Or perhaps if you had a cheese ball screw you could do away with that cheese ball holder. IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 12-05-2005 12:19 AM
The containers for cheese used in Victorian times are slightly larger than a modern cake holder with lid. People bought cheese in rounds, which weighed about 20 pounds. The round sat somewhere cool, hopefully, and cheese was cut into wedges as needed. A set of these lifters could assure that the wedges were pretty much uniform in size. Arrange them around the round of cheese symetrically and get the number of wedges needed. Eight would make sense, as that is an easy number to cut visually. And the lifter helped make sure that human hands did not touch the cheese itself. Which was a concern before the ready availibility of hot water. IP: Logged |
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Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 |
posted 12-05-2005 10:34 PM
Judging from the infrequency with which these appear on the market, I would say they were rather unpopular. I have never seen any of those shown in the 1890 catalog in person. I hope someday to stumble on an old chest of drawers for which somebody mistakenly used 6 Gorham sterling cheese knobs as replacement drawer pulls  IP: Logged |
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