Can anyone identify this silver artifact?

cryfreedom66 · Mar 19, 2014

Hey all, looking to identify the origin or function of these items. Any assistance would be much appreciated! The items are about the size of a cd give or take.

Thank you :icon_thumleft:

Breezie · Mar 19, 2014

Were they found in the USA?

Welcome to the forum!
Breezie

cryfreedom66 · Mar 19, 2014

Breezie said:
Were they found in the USA?

Welcome to the forum!
Breezie

We purchased them from an estate in the US but are not sure where they were originally found...

thanks for the welcome!

huntsman53 · Mar 19, 2014

I was going to say that they are possibly wax seals but once I read the they are the size of a CD and since there are two of them, I really have no idea. Maybe take and post some pics of the designs on the rectangular face of the rings as well as pics with them in comparison to an actual object instead of just saying size of a CD, might help. To be Silver and have such intricate engravings, they must be of some significant importance!

Frank

cryfreedom66 · Mar 19, 2014

huntsman53 said:
I was going to say that they are possibly wax seals but once I read the they are the size of a CD and since there are two of them, I really have no idea. Maybe take and post some pics of the designs on the rectangular face of the rings as well as pics with them in comparison to an actual object instead of just saying size of a CD, might help. To be Silver and have such intricate engravings, they must be of some significant importance!

Frank

some additional pics:

we were speculating armbands, but they seem too small for that, plus they are a closed loop which armbands usually are not...

Tackie · Mar 19, 2014

First thing I thought of when I saw them was very ornate door knockers. Maybe for a really big set of double doors? Looks like the loop would fit into a bracket and the square piece would be on the bottom and used to strike or knock on the door....just a guess though!

cryfreedom66 · Mar 19, 2014

Tackie said:
First thing I thought of when I saw them was very ornate door knockers. Maybe for a really big set of double doors? Looks like the loop would fit into a bracket and the square piece would be on the bottom and used to strike or knock on the door....just a guess though!

a thought we also had, but I should have mentioned they are incredibly light (hollow).

Jason in Enid · Mar 19, 2014

They do not look silver to me. Possibly aluminum, tin, pewter, or something else. They also look to have been painted in the past.

unclemac · Mar 19, 2014

maybe a clue is the white stuff in the indents....what is it?

fmfdoc · Mar 19, 2014

I'd put my money on Curtain-stays. The only thing missing is the little bracket that would attach them to the wall.............

ecoast · Mar 19, 2014

towel ring?

Helix · Mar 19, 2014

ecoast said:
towel ring?[/QUOTE

Same thought I had as I was scrolling down.

Alchemy · Mar 19, 2014

My guess is, or they look like to me like anklet bangles from India. Couldn't say if they old or repro's

Here's a pair, not "like" yours but you can see that is what they could be

Vintage Antique Ethnic Tribal Old Silver Anklet Bangle Bracelet Pair Cuff Jewelr | eBay

The only thing that seems off, is no connection. Although, they could have been custom made for the wearer.

Alchemy · Mar 19, 2014

Just wanted to add. They could also be upper arm cuffs, since there is no opening. Have you looked to see if there may have been at one time?
It could be that someone changed them and painted them white - for who knows what :dontknow:

Do a search in google images for - antique hollow silver yemeni upper arm cuff
Change the wording, like change yemeni to indian, india, or add tribal anklet, and act...

Alchemy · Mar 19, 2014

Just wanted to add. They could also be upper arm cuffs, since there is no opening. Have you looked to see if there may have been at one time? It could be that someone changed them and painted them white - for who knows what :dontknow:

Do a search in google images for - antique hollow silver yemeni upper arm cuff

Change the wording, like change yemeni to indian, india, or add tribal anklet, and act...

By the way, women wore the upper arm bands. So, I'm not so sure they'd be too small
Just guessing, but I've been into tribal art, so I knew I had seen something like this before.
Just can't place these exact :icon_scratch:

tamrock · Mar 20, 2014

They look like 100+ year old silver to me. I'm thinking some type of Victorian period jewelry pieces. So far arm cuff seem to fit, but I'm still sit-in on the fence on what for sure these are? Look closely for any very tiny hallmarks, some French marks can be the size of a flea.

tamrock · Mar 20, 2014

unclemac said:
maybe a clue is the white stuff in the indents....what is it?

I'm guessing that white stuff is very old silver polish past

.

huntsman53 · Mar 20, 2014

I have no clue either as to what they are but the designs of the engravings on them, appear to be Medieval. However, a Medieval motif in the engravings could have been done/used at anytime since the Medieval times.

Frank

cudamark · Mar 20, 2014

Fancy show saddle stirrups?

Shindig · Nov 25, 2014

Do you have any updates on this? I am curious as my family has a similar item that was gifted to them years ago. It is exactly the same except for the engraved pattern. We were never told what it was, though, so this post is the first clue we have seen in some time. Thanks!