Ornate model of What is It....

[jamestaylor]

Ornate model of Intricate and well done.

On a marble base which is 1/2 inch thick.
6 inches tall
3 inches wide
5 inches length

A friend of mine thought this is quite old...he thought it might be a miniature of a knife sharpening
underneath is a mark..looks like a c over a m

[Mackaydon]

Can you show the mark?

[baywalker]

I think it is a very fancy razor sharpener for a barber shop , A strip of leather was attached to the wheel .

Jonnie

[DCMatt]

I would say it was used for polishing. Obviously something small... Jewelry? Lenses?

It looks like the "cup" on the top has a little spigot on it - correct?

DCMatt

[mojjax]

I think it's a Japanese chalk line .

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?rt=nc...=p3286.c0.m283

[Breezie]

I think Mo is correct. On the earlier sumitsubo lines, ink was soaked on silk or cotton and placed in the bowl, and when the string ran through the ink, it could be snapped as a straight line. Your extremely ornate model looks as if it held chalk, which was placed in the top, round area and held in place by the turn key. Really neat piece, Breezie

[PikesPeakCharlie]

Not sure But if that is a chalk line,it sure is purty,like none I ever used !!!! Nice find Congrats

[jamestaylor]

Re DCMatt

Yes, it has a spigot on the top...the handle on the side spins also...I sorta believe this is a miniature of
what the unit was designed for...the shell decoration should put a time period when this was put
together..does anyone know?
Thank you for looking..

Regards,

[Breezie]

Re DCMatt

Yes, it has a spigot on the top...the handle on the side spins also...I sorta believe this is a miniature of
what the unit was designed for...the shell decoration should put a time period when this was put
together..does anyone know?
Thank you for looking..

Regards,

It is from the Victorian era.