Nice looking thing, but what is it (or what was it used for)

[woody50]

This part was found in Holland, but on the forum there no one could come with a definite determination to what it was.
Maybe someone here would know....

Material Bronze
Mass gram 3,8
Size (mm) lwh lw= 46 x 18.2
Diameter Ø (mm)
Find Place Hoorn, The Netherlands

Anyone want to take a guess?
The hole appears to be made after the object was removed from its place.

 

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[tamrock]

fleur-de-lis with a Saxon shield string dispenser? I'm sure that's not it, but it does look old.

 

[Bruce R]

Pull tab from a bronze-age 40-pounder ? seems like it could be an ornament from armor.

 

[woody50]

Well the only thing that is correct at this moment is "fleur-de-lis". 'Come on' guys (experts) get serious!

 

[woody50]

Just to let you know that you are not doing anything different than the bad Dutch guys they said:

Hand from a clock
belt attachment ca 1500
a book closing device

Which of course are I think wrong guesses...

 

[Bruce R]

Seriously, it could be anything. You just have to leave it out there until someone recognizes it. Back in the day even the most mundane things were made ornate, I've seen some carpenter tools inlaid with gold and ivory and little pearl-handled spoons which were used to clean your nose.

 

[Icewing]

I would think it's likely just decorative hardware from a vintage trunk or other furniture.

 

[woody50]

Yes Bruce I understand. I was just surprised when I put it on a Dutch forum and they did not know anything about it either. Strange because it was found there.
Some things can't be determined to what they are or used for. One example of this is an object that was found close by where I live. We put it on our largest forum here (in Dutch but can be in English too) and it took or is the longest thread every posted there.

It started out on August 8th 2011 and the last post was in February 26, 2016. So still going strong after 5 years. 15 pages (very long pages) and so many guess to what it is or was. But every guess always seemed to have points that could not be answered, negative points.
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I also put it here on TN but not really any new answer... http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/297350-another-strange-pewter-object.html

Strange. Most experts said it was a baby rattle or something like that, but its a type of thing you would not let your child play with.

Anyway, maybe I will get lucky!

 

[woody50]

I would think it's likely just decorative hardware from a vintage trunk or other furniture.

That could very well be true!

 

[Bruce R]

Hey, the British discovered stonehenge about a thousand years ago, and they still can't make it fly!!! Ha, Ha.......Sorry.

 

[Bruce R]

Also, that mechanical brass thing with all the gears in it you see on tv once in awhile that was found on the bottom of the ocean somewhere, they managed to give it a fancy name but still don't know what it is.

 

[woody50]

Also, that mechanical brass thing with all the gears in it you see on tv once in awhile that was found on the bottom of the ocean somewhere, they managed to give it a fancy name but still don't know what it is.

Tell me more, never heard about that.

 

[Icewing]

Tell me more, never heard about that.

I'm pretty sure he's talking about The Antikythera mechanism.

 

[Bruce R]

Yes, I think that's it. It was found in an ancient shipwreck in the Mediterranean, they think it's some kind of astrological computer

 

[CRUSADER]

I think it looks 17th C, maybe 18th.

But no idea what it went on.

 

[fyrffytr1]

Maybe it will help us to know the measurements in inches. I looked at a conversion table and found that your piece measures about 11/16" wide by 1 3/4" long. I also think that the hole, even though it is slightly off centered, is original to the manufacture of the piece. With that in mind, could it be part of a cabinet door or drawer pull?

 

[woody50]

Hi fyrffytr1... (explain please)

Just so happens that I use an electronic digital caliper so I can change between inch/mm

My computer says
46mm and 18.2mm
1.81" and 0.71"

When I use the caliper it shows
1.81" x .72 (widest part)
46,07 x 18.3 mm

So you and I are in the ball park. Of course it could be a drawer pull or part of a cabinet door. Since it's made from bronze instead of tin I don't really think it's that old, however it has a great patina which only appears over a long time. With the beautiful patina I am thinking more along the path as Crusader, and on the 18e century because of the bronze. Tin was cheaper back in those days. But who knows...

 

[woody50]

On the dutch forum it is now called a medieval book fitting!
Does that sound good?