A lid? With letter/text on it...

woody50 · Dec 12, 2013

What could this be? I sure don't know. Sometimes I think about a lid, but then the letters/text on the thing...

Material Lead, old
Mass gram 14.06
Measurement mm Ø(whl) b=31 l=44

cudamark · Dec 12, 2013

Yes, it looks like a hinged cover for a pouring spout with the eye for the hinge broken off. The protrusion is probably so you can use your thumb to keep it open.

surf · Dec 12, 2013

Antique Majolica pottery syrup pitcher

cudamark · Dec 13, 2013

Yup, that's the idea.....I was just too lazy to go find a photo! :laughing7:

woody50 · Dec 13, 2013

I cleaned the 'lid' up a bit to try to see the letters on it. Turned it right side up also so they can be read.

I see on the left side a (family) shield with at the top three French lilies. Under the middle lily is a vertical sword with a horizontal guard, it points upwards.

On the right side there seem to be two letters. I can only make out the last letter, it is a gothic O.

Then in the center of the 'lid' seems to be some sort of letter or number, but I cannot see what it is.

I am hoping that someone here might be able to read Gothic letters better than I can!

nhbenz · Dec 13, 2013

When enlarged (as much as I can) the large figure seems to have a dragon? in the middle with a winding neck looking to the right. And a possible wing going up to the left.

woody50 · Dec 13, 2013

nhbenz said:
When enlarged (as much as I can) the large figure seems to have a dragon? in the middle with a winding neck looking to the right. And a possible wing going up to the left.

Hi nhbenz. I always have troubles with this sort of work, especially the letters/figures on English Hammered coins!
Great that you see that, could be a clue.
If you want a better photo I will send it to you. Only too large to be sent via this site. Send me a PM with your email...

Thanks for your comment.

nhbenz · Dec 13, 2013

Well, I don't think a better photo would help me, as I don't know much about these things. I just try to report what I see in these instances. I did my best to show what I think I'm seeing:

CRUSADER · Dec 15, 2013

Well it looks 17th C or older, my first thought is the lid to a metal oil lamp.

Silver Searcher · Dec 15, 2013

Amazing that people can put a date period on something, with out even knowing what it is :icon_scratch:

Woody is it lead or lead/alloy (pewter). I agree with nhbenze it does look like a dragon with wings out stretched....strange but interesting find.

SS

woody50 · Dec 16, 2013

Hi SS. Well I think its just lead, pewter would have been quite black when it came out of the ground. The markings made me wonder what else it could have been other than a lid. I have found many lids before, and seen many, but not with text or symbols on it. I though first it was silver. I cannot say for sure its not pewter, don't know how to measure or see that.

Thanks for your comment!

NGE · Dec 16, 2013

Maybe a lid for a powder flask or powder horn.....nge could not be made of steel.

Silver Searcher · Dec 16, 2013

woody50 said:
Hi SS. Well I think its just lead, pewter would have been quite black when it came out of the ground. The markings made me wonder what else it could have been other than a lid. I have found many lids before, and seen many, but not with text or symbols on it. I though first it was silver. I cannot say for sure its not pewter, don't know how to measure or see that.

Thanks for your comment!

If it's Lead Woody, it should be quite pliable..

SS

woody50 · Dec 16, 2013

Silver Searcher said:
If it's Lead Woody, it should be quite pliable..
SS

In my eyes it's not pliable or easy to bend. Just took a photo of it in my hand.
I am going to change my guess about the metal, and go for pewter. I have now compared the object to other pewter objects that I have, and it does match up with the color of most pewter. It is blacker than I though. And most lids for bekers were made out of tin also.