Soapstone Clamshell?!

[Charl]

Well, not really, but it sure resembles a hinged shellfish. Maybe a quahog( hard shelled clam)?
This was found years ago on high ground west of Greenwich Bay, RI. I've seen this bay referred to as the "quahog capital of the world", so, who knows, maybe it's a shellfish effigy or maybe just a shallow bowl that might have been salvaged from a larger bowl. It's certainly different, with one lug end, and maybe blackened by fire on the underside.

 

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[dlos]

Really cool and interesting piece, I agree that it is made in the form of quahog shell. Thanks for sharing!

 

[IlliniGuy]

Interesting piece Charl. Is that Steatite?

 

[bsit1361]

Hard to say anything different. I'm agreeing with a soapstone clamshell. I guess you would call it an effigy bowl.

 

[Pancake]

Very cool piece. It certainly looks like a Quahog shell.

 

[Martingeetars]

That is just an awesome piece, it looks to be almost complete, like a spoon. WOW great great find!

 

[Charl]

Interesting piece Charl. Is that Steatite?

yes, Illiniguy. Soapstone is another name for steatite.

 

[Charl]

That is just an awesome piece, it looks to be almost complete, like a spoon. WOW great great find!

it does look like a huge ladle, now that you mention it. It is complete, but don't know if salvaged from a bigger vessel, or made this way.

 

[Charl]

Thanks for your kind words, friends!

 

[old digger]

Interesting artifact, looks like there are a lot of ''knife marks'' from use. What does the label read, (second photo/on the left)? Hard to tell what it is made from, what's your opinion?

 

[Charl]

Interesting artifact, looks like there are a lot of ''knife marks'' from use. What does the label read, (second photo/on the left)? Hard to tell what it is made from, what's your opinion?

it's a fairly good grade of soapstone or steatite. The label contains location and finder info.
A farm that's long gone...

 

[pickaway]

Nice relic thanks for posting.