PRETTY SILVER - Need help to identify

[materdigger1]

Actually found this several weeks ago - just getting around to posting - was swinging the CTX in an area where I was finding C/W stuff - found a nice sharps bullet and then just 2 feet away I got that sweet addictive high pitch sound of silver ringing in my ears - dug up this beauty about 7" deep - same as the bullet I just dug - it is old silver hand engraved and was worn on a necklace of some sort - looked really hard for the chain and it was nowhere to be found. Don't know what it is - someone told me it may be an urn of some sort. I meant to place a quarter beside it in the pic to show size but forgot. It is the same o.d. of an pencil or pen and it is 1-1/8" in length. It looks like the top portion is a plug and will come out but I have'nt tried to remove it because of the fear of damaging it. Any help from my treasurenet friends will greatly appreciated on this one.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[cti4sw]

You may not want to open it... I've heard of people taking past relatives' ashes and putting them into jewelry urns like this. Just a thought...

 

[materdigger1]

That's what I was thinking - It may have been the ashes of a family member that a C/W soldier carried into war with him - that makes this thing sacred and one of the most significant finds for me so far - after I found out it may be an urn it's meaning became all different to me - I don't think I'll ever attemp to open it.

 

[Redtaill944]

Could very well be an urn, but looks more like a stuff bullet to me. I've seen similar items in a museum in SC and they where called "Snuff Bullets"

 

[materdigger1]

Could very well be an urn, but looks more like a stuff bullet to me. I've seen similar items in a museum in SC and they where called "Snuff Bullets"

Very interesting Redtaill - I'll have to look into that - Thanks

 

[Silver Searcher]

It looks like it might be a Silver Vinaigrette, which is a type of a perfume holder.

SS

 

[zaxfire69]

I thought about all three things when CLF sent me the picture. I've seen perfume containers like this as well as tiny urns. It is really unique in design. There are some really knowledgeable folks on T-net and I bet they will come up with something for you. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for this weather we are having to break! I need to get out and dig something!

 

[materdigger1]

It looks like it might be a Silver Vinaigrette, which is a type of a perfume holder.

SS

Thanks Silver Searcher

 

[materdigger1]

I thought about all three things when CLF sent me the picture. I've seen perfume containers like this as well as tiny urns. It is really unique in design. There are some really knowledgeable folks on T-net and I bet they will come up with something for you. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for this weather we are having to break! I need to get out and dig something!

Thanks zaxfire - you are actually the one who put me on to the idea of it possibly being an urn - I went Saturday - was very muddy - got me and all my gear very muddy - still loved it

 

[cti4sw]

Actually, you know what wouldn't surprise me? If it's a silver ash urn molded after a rifle shell to carry ashes of a CW soldier's KIA family member. Think about it; whoever made it (or had it made) could have had a perfume vinaigrette in mind when they designed it, or simply silver-plated an existing rifle shell. Back during that War, you had brother against brother, father against son, etc. so it's not a far shot to think that some really creative person designed a unique urn to house the ashes of a beloved - albeit possibly misguided, though that would have been a matter of opinion - family member who was killed in combat. And even if it wasn't actually carried into war, it could have been made after the War by the dead soldier's descendants for the same purpose. Just a thought from someone who's the family genealogist...

EDIT: If I was you, I'd take it to a museum professional who could possibly get it open and test the contents. If it IS an urn, could you imagine returning it to surviving family members, or descendants? Even if no one from that family is alive, to prove that it contains ashes and re-seal it would be a moving moment - for me (a veteran myself), it would be on the level of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier...

 

[materdigger1]

Actually, you know what wouldn't surprise me? If it's a silver ash urn molded after a rifle shell to carry ashes of a CW soldier's KIA family member. Think about it; whoever made it (or had it made) could have had a perfume vinaigrette in mind when they designed it, or simply silver-plated an existing rifle shell. Back during that War, you had brother against brother, father against son, etc. so it's not a far shot to think that some really creative person designed a unique urn to house the ashes of a beloved - albeit possibly misguided, though that would have been a matter of opinion - family member who was killed in combat. And even if it wasn't actually carried into war, it could have been made after the War by the dead soldier's descendants for the same purpose. Just a thought from someone who's the family genealogist...

EDIT: If I was you, I'd take it to a museum professional who could possibly get it open and test the contents. If it IS an urn, could you imagine returning it to surviving family members, or descendants? Even if no one from that family is alive, to prove that it contains ashes and re-seal it would be a moving moment - for me (a veteran myself), it would be on the level of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier...

It would be off the awsome chart to be able to find out (if it indeed is an urn) whose it was and to return it to the family descendants - what an honor that would be. Thanks cti4sw

 

[PeteWmass]

I don't believe you can get DNA from ashes...unfortunately...

 

[Joseph Gilbert]

It looks like it might be a Silver Vinaigrette, which is a type of a perfume holder.

SS

I concur its a ornate victorian perfume bottle

 

[Gunrunner61]

It's acool looking vial i must say, Imma thinking it's a perfume bottle
I did alittle research and Cremation did not really get started in America
until the early 1870's. A cool find though.....................HH

 

[materdigger1]

It's acool looking vial i must say, Imma thinking it's a perfume bottle
I did alittle research and Cremation did not really get started in America
until the early 1870's. A cool find though.....................HH

Thanks Gunrunner for the info on cremation - very interesting

 

[CoinFetcher]

I'm thinking snuff bottle, but perfume bottle seems very likely also. Even more likely. I'm switching my answer to perfume

 

[baspinall]

Why not carefully opening it with a cloth and pliers to see once and for all? If there is ashes, hair whatever then plug it back up. That's what I would do just so it wouldn't drive me crazy wondering.

 

[gringo-vikingo]

Looks like a sewing needle case (minus the cap).

 

[materdigger1]

Why not carefully opening it with a cloth and pliers to see once and for all? If there is ashes, hair whatever then plug it back up. That's what I would do just so it wouldn't drive me crazy wondering.

Yea baspinall - I am very courious as to what's inside. I might nudge on it a little but very cautious not to damage - the hand engraving is awsome on this thing. I'm still not completetely convinced that it's not an urn though - got plenty of time - if and when (after further research and input from the treasurenet folks like yourself) I am convinced that it's not an urn I will try to open it. Thanks so much for your comment.

 

[detroitdigger]

Cool piece of silver