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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 American Silver before sterling
 Very Early Silver Whatzit!?!
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| Author | Topic: Very Early Silver Whatzit!?! |
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Brent Posts: 1507 |
posted 05-25-2009 02:36 PM
  
     Hello all, Here is a mystery item for everyone to chew on after their picnic. 6 5/8 inches long, flat with the cast and applied finial of a hand holding a flower. Two rectangular piercings, one with a small hole above. Decorated with crude engraving, worn almost flat from use. Single mark of VS in a rectangle (Could be SA, read upside down, but I can not discern a crossbar, so I am going with VS). The flower will hold it upright on edge, and may be there just for that purpose. So, what could it possibly be? My gut feeling is that it is at least 200 years older, and may be quite a bit older. Personally, I think it is more likely to be European than American, but I am starting it here and we can move it later if need be. Any ideas? Brent IP: Logged |
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wev Moderator Posts: 4121 |
posted 05-25-2009 03:07 PM
No idea what it might be used for, but this sort of crudity of workmanship always says modern to me. The wear is too consistent across the whole surface. The mark looks cast in and too unworn by comparison. I think it is some kind of fantasy. IP: Logged |
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vathek Posts: 966 |
posted 05-25-2009 03:28 PM
One guess would be a bookmark. The slots could accomodate a ribbon perhaps. IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 05-25-2009 04:02 PM
I was thinking a ribbon too, but I don't think a bookmark--the slots are going the wrong way. Maybe a tool for threading ribbons through something else? IP: Logged |
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agphile Posts: 798 |
posted 05-25-2009 04:13 PM
Fascinating. I've no idea what it is but it looks to me as if it may have been part of some sort of mechanism. If it pivoted on a pin through the round hole something could have moved up and down in the two long slots but I cant think what. Otherwise I'd guess it is just something like the side panel for the lid of a small casket - the hand holding the flower inviting you to lift the lid (but if so, why decorate both sides?). Doubtless it will prove to be something completely different. I don't feel competent to judge whether it is historic or just historicist, so to speak. [This message has been edited by agphile (edited 05-25-2009).] IP: Logged |
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swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 |
posted 05-25-2009 04:33 PM
My first thought also was that it might have been a part of something else. IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 05-25-2009 05:15 PM
Maybe part of an arcade game machine? IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 05-25-2009 07:02 PM
A silver arcade game machine! I want to play that game. IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 05-25-2009 07:17 PM
You got me there. It just has the look of a cast part for something like that. IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 05-25-2009 10:11 PM
It looks like it could be part of a antique hasp or lock. The small round hole is where it is fixed to the object to be locked and is pinned loosely so it swings out of the way when not in use. The slots are for the stables/eyes which are then turned/locked. IP: Logged |
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Brent Posts: 1507 |
posted 05-28-2009 08:35 AM
Thank you for all of the input. The piece does have rather uniform wear, but under magnification it is genuine patina of age, not faked. As for the use, I like Scott's idea of a hasp, but if true I would have expected more damage around the holes. Again, the wear is fairly uniform. In the back of my mind, I have a feeling that this is related to a book or scroll. The piece could be a scroll spindle, with the end of the scroll being attached through the two piercings. That would also explain the rounded tip, whihc would make it easier to roll up. I also know that many early books had closures of two straps of leather, which could slide through holes like we see here. Anyway,I'm sure this is not the only one of whatever it is. Please let me know if anyone sees anything similar anywhere. Thanks again, Brent IP: Logged |
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Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 |
posted 06-01-2009 08:21 PM
This item strikes me as being continental rather than American. Not sure about date, but I would say anywhere been late 18C through mid 19C. Could it be a hair pin? The missing piece could be a silver bar that would pass through the two rectangular openings and hold the hair in place. I suggest this because "Primitive and Folk Jewelry" (my go-to reference for pre-1900 continental mysteries) identifies a couple of vaguely similar pieces as hair pins (also with blunt terminals, even though the term "pin" suggests something pointy). BTW, interesting imagery--a hand clutching a bird with spread wings (almost seems like the poor thing is trying to escape the hand's grasp). I wonder what it signifies. [This message has been edited by Paul Lemieux (edited 06-01-2009).] IP: Logged |
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