Need help identifying sterling silver thing found today!

[TejasDigger]

I went out for about an hour today and detected around a house next door to my parents. I quickly got a good quarter signal about 3 1/2" down. When I dug down I noticed a chain, at first I thought it was a necklace, but when I pulled the chain I saw something else below it. I pulled it out, the bottom of it has sterling on one corner and 30 on the other. I have no clue what it is but I know it is silver. Anybody know what this thing was used for, or what it is?

 

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[dirtywhitboy]

making tea

 

[vayank54]

making tea

good possiblity

 

[Argentium]

I can buy into the tea infuser theory as well - by default , as I really don't know . The chain
and ring work well with this usage. Argentium.

 

[TejasDigger]

making tea

At first I laughed at this until I thought about it for a minute. That would be the reason for being silver. You just place this thing in a pot and pull it out with the chain when it's done. Anyone else?

 

[willie d]

making tea

yep, nice find, nice ID

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Sterlin...wItemQQptZAntiques_Silver?hash=item19b91a00f2

 

[TejasDigger]

making tea

yep, nice find, nice ID

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Sterlin...wItemQQptZAntiques_Silver?hash=item19b91a00f2

Cool! That one is on ebay with a starting bid of $45. Thanks for the help guys!

 

[DFX DAVE in M.D.]

A ex of mine used to collect tea-balls. Most of hers were round. The Kovels Antique Show on HGTV did a feature about tea-balls several years ago. Nice find, I don't think she had any sterling ones.

 

[dfx willy]

wow i learned 2 things ! 1- that its for making tea. 2- that plebah even drinks tea willy

 

[Dman]

I agree. It is used for making tea. Congrats.
Dman

 

[kimsdad]

Great find!!!

The cool thing is that you can probably still use it!

 

[BobinSouthVA]

Wow what a unique find. Can't say I've ever seen one of those before.

I'd give that a banner vote because of the uniqueness of it.

 

[Deepdiger60]

Those leaf burners can be used for tea leafs as a teen back in the good ole 1960,s we used those to burn incenses amongst other things i dont think mine were silver but copper i had a bunch of them but i always forgot where i hung them .Nice find ! HH Jim

 

[seger98]

Very unique find.

 

[tymcmurray]

Great find and in pretty good shape.
Surprised it wasn't flattened!

Ty

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[TejasDigger]

Wow what a unique find. Can't say I've ever seen one of those before.

I'd give that a banner vote because of the uniqueness of it.

Thanks!

 

[creeper71]

making tea

yep, nice find, nice ID

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Sterlin...wItemQQptZAntiques_Silver?hash=item19b91a00f2

Cool! That one is on ebay with a starting bid of $45. Thanks for the help guys!

that ebay price is way too high

 

[TejasDigger]

making tea

yep, nice find, nice ID

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Sterlin...wItemQQptZAntiques_Silver?hash=item19b91a00f2

Cool! That one is on ebay with a starting bid of $45. Thanks for the help guys!

that ebay price is way too high

That is your opinion. Go look on ebay for tea ball's and see what they are going for. I see several ranging from $40 to $90 and a lot have bids too. Please don't try and downgrade my find because you wouldn't buy it. After looking into it there are people who collect these and would pay more than you.

 

[creeper71]

making tea

yep, nice find, nice ID

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Sterlin...wItemQQptZAntiques_Silver?hash=item19b91a00f2

Cool! That one is on ebay with a starting bid of $45. Thanks for the help guys!

that ebay price is way too high

That is your opinion. Go look on ebay for tea ball's and see what they are going for. I see several ranging from $40 to $90 and a lot have bids too. Please don't try and downgrade my find because you wouldn't buy it. After looking into it there are people who collect these and would pay more than you.

I deal in antiques but I guess you know more then me..sorry

 

[TejasDigger]

People who deal with antiques have certain things they specialize in. You know like lanterns or furniture. It's hard to know what the price value is for every antique in the history of antiques, but apparently you specialize in silver tea balls. This one just sold for $47.78 plus $7 for shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190363208507&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT