Another Strange pewter object…

[woody50]

Another Strange pewter object…

This fragment was found in Holland, the top part was broken off. We wondered what it was, it is from pewter but has figures on both sides of it and both sides have different subjects.
THis fragment is shown below next to the larger complete object.

While trying to find out what it was used for I came across a few others, two of which were complete. One of the complete ones came from the same city and it was found during an archeology dig.

I have now discovered another 5 ‘about the same’ fragments that have been found by our collages.

Here is a photo of most of the objects found, they sort of look alike, pretty sure they were used for the same purpose (but what?). Two of the objects are in the depots from an archeology service; the others are in private collections.

Wondering if anyone knows what it could be.

On a Dutch forum the guesses that people have made ‘what it is’ or ‘what it was used for’ are:

Baby rattle
A belt hanger
A shoe horn
A Spatula
Medical instrument
A soother for a child
Something to fold paper with
Until now none of the above ‘guesses’ can be substantiated.

The measurements of the complete object are:

Material Pewter
Weight 28 gram
Length 110 mm
The widest point 32 mm
The flat part widest point 17 mm
The flat part length from top to the decoration is 44 mm

The object next to the complete one was found in the same city, and has the same decoration and measurement as the complete object.

I do realize that a few have been found in Holland, and my guess is that it could be just a Dutch product. But just maybe something like this exists or existed in England.

The estimate is that the object is from the 16^th century.
Any guesses are welcome!

Greetings Earl

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[TomPA]

Tongue depressor?

[rodgerdodger]

Butter knife

[woody50]

Tongue depressor?

The metal is tin or tin lead; would you put that on your tongue? Thought not. Something like that has always been wood.
Thanks anyway

[woody50]

Butter knife

Don't know about that, the blade is quite thick. But possible I guess. Another thing is that the grip for the hand is not very smooth or nice, and this object is also quite small, much smaller than the normal butter knifes.
Thanks

[Talon]

I agree with the butter knife, or as I know them cheese spread knives. They aren't usually very large as they are used for spreading soft cheese on small crackers and the blade is generally thick, also the handles are often ornate. Do a google search for cheese spread knife.
Always Order Dessert: Hostess Cheat Sheet: Cheese Knife 101 -- Food Blog and Recipes

EDIT: The one's in the top corner have wine corks for handles, definitely not very large.

[woody50]

I agree with the butter knife, or as I know them cheese spread knives. They aren't usually very large as they are used for spreading soft cheese on small crackers and the blade is generally thick, also the handles are often ornate. Do a google search for cheese spread knife.
Always Order Dessert: Hostess Cheat Sheet: Cheese Knife 101 -- Food Blog and Recipes

EDIT: The one's in the top corner have wine corks for handles, definitely not very large.

Thanks Talon, you are right about the knives, they are small and short. Just wonder if they had such stuff back then (16th century). But could have. I do think its a nice idea and will look into it.

Greetings Earl

[rodgerdodger]

Back in those days they didn't know about lead not being good for ya.

[rodgerdodger]

Maybe it was Gorgon "terrible" Greek Mythology. Looks like it could have had a chain on it from the loops on it.

Gorgon - Monstropedia

[woody50]

Butter knife

Hi Rogerdodger, I have looked around and think you might have hit the determination of this object right on the head.
Sounds perfect, a butter knife would answer and solve many of the other problems of all the other ideas.

These 'knifes' have been dated to the 16th century, and that is what I will now look at; try to answer the question, "Did they have butter knifes back then (knifes were the first eating utinsel)?"
Will ask around....

Thanks for your input, the first real good idea. Then I think, "Why did I not think about that"!

[woody50]

Back in those days they didn't know about lead not being good for ya.

Thats right, althought there were three types of pewter back then. The first type did not contain lead, only tin and copper (and some other metals). The second type had about 4% lead, and the third around 15% but it was not used for tableware. The second type was used for plates, spoons, cups and bowls (tableware). The lead was used for strength, it was cheaper than copper or antimonty (antimonty is used in modern pewter for strength). Pewter was a good metal back then, low melting point and if something in the production process went wrong, everything could be melted down and reused.

[rodgerdodger]

Now I think they are some type of pendants like this.

File:Pendant Camiros Louvre Bj2169-9.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[rodgerdodger]

File:Pendant Camiros Louvre Bj2169-9.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[ffuries]

I'm thinking it might be a spreader. The wife and I both having lived in Europe are in agreement on this. Used for butter, mustard etc. When visiting my Oma in Holland she had some very ornate ones, thought she was rich or something when I was little.

[rodgerdodger]

These all look simular to the pendant I posted. Some have two faces and some have a naked woman.
The ones from Alkmaar and Rotterdam have a nude woman. Yours look like they have sea serpents. Some have funny faces.
The pendant is from 630-620 B.C. so yours might be older than you think unless these were made for hundreds of years out of different metals.
Who are these faces on these things ? They might be Greek made and traded.
.

[DCMatt]

Hi Rogerdodger, I have looked around and think you might have hit the determination of this object right on the head.
Sounds perfect, a butter knife would answer and solve many of the other problems of all the other ideas.

These 'knifes' have been dated to the 16th century, and that is what I will now look at; try to answer the question, "Did they have butter knifes back then (knifes were the first eating utinsel)?"
Will ask around....

Thanks for your input, the first real good idea. Then I think, "Why did I not think about that"!

Maybe cheese. I don't think butter got really popular until the 19th century. Before that they made cheese because it would keep better.

Were these found at house sites?

DCMatt

[DCMatt]

Observation:

The ones with the female figure (body) on them have the ornamentation going AWAY from the blade. The ones with the face and the creepy "smiley face" have the ornamentation going TOWARDS the blade. Could this indicate that these things are "male" and "female"? I'm not thinking butter knife anymore.

I'm wondering if these are 15th - 16th century bum wiping tools. We know the Dutch have been famous for their cleanliness for centuries (ie "give your house a Dutch cleaning"). The Japanese used flat sticks for anal cleansing as early as the 7th C.

It's just a theory. Anybody have any thoughts on these being personal toilet tools? Or am I just full of sh!t.

DCMatt

[littlebill31]

I'm agreeing with the cheese knife. Many soft cheeses, such as brie, are spread with these. I have several modern ones that are basically identical.

[CRUSADER]

[woody50]

Very surprised at your answer Cru, really not a clue?