Coffin handle needs Masonic deciphering

[Qball]

Very unusual coffin handle of bronze. Seems Masonic or Odd Fellows but somethings wrong. Pythagoras said "Offer not your right hand easily to everyone". This is the hand shake of the Gnostic. But check this out these are left hands not right hands. I cannot find another example anywhere but right hands represent strength and left hands weakness and judgement. did the foundry blow it or is there a reason for this symbolism?

 

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[releventchair]

Scouts use left hand.
Closer to the heart.
Equates to friendship.

 

[Qball]

Scouts or Scotts?

 

[releventchair]

Scouts or Scotts?

Boy Scouts.

 

[chub]

https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-perform-the-Gamma-Phi-Beta-secret-handshake

The link above is how I always understood the secret handshake....there is also a series of pics of masonic variations of handshakes....but none with the left hand. Very interesting.

Are you sure its a coffin handle?

chub

 

[Qball]

pretty sure this is for a coffin, it fits the hand perfectly, thought it was a finial at first then the light came on.

 

[bradyboy]

dont understand how this is related to a coffin
looks more like a finiel of some kind
any screw hole, size?
game piece, chess piece.
I looks small, dont get the coffin connection
imo
brady

 

[bradyboy]

need more pics
the ball on the end may fit into holes in a chess board, making this thing a rook / castle
Brady

 

[arrow86]

I’m curious as well to the coffin connection ? Why are you certain it was from a coffin from the pics it looks small maybe 3”

 

[Qball]

So here is a more size accurate image. There is a hole on the end opposite the end with the ball that may have had another ball inserted. I first thought that this was a finial but it is the right size for a handle. this dates no earlier than 1855 and no later than 1900 so it is not boy scout. I work restoring dilapidated grave sites for our historic rural cemetery and use a detector sometimes to find lost bits and pieces to use in my restorations. this turned up while looking for metal railing bits but the bits I was looking for were not this style. When I get the research done on this thing it will probably go to the local museum.What ever it is the reversed symbol is a conundrum.

 

[Retired Sarge]

Could it be a fence or gate finial, seeing a lot of old grave sites had fences around the individual graves.

 

[invent4hir]

Qball, good on you for restoring dilapidated grave sites at your historic rural cemetery + donating artifacts to the local museum Hope you get a positive ID, as it will draw more interest.

 

[invent4hir]

If it is coffin-related, one book you might find it in is “Remember Man Thou Art Dust: Coffin Hardware in Nineteenth Century America” by Megan E. Springate. I requested via interlibrary loan a few years ago when researching my great-great grandmother's grave that had been robbed. On TreasureNet see "Caplifter from my great-great-grandmother’s coffin". Even if your artifact isn't in the book, it may help you ID others.

 

[devldog]

Great Deeds in restoring the Old cemeteries. I also hope that you can get a true ID on this piece.

 

[Al D]

It is part of a door knocker

 

[Al D]

Very unusual coffin handle of bronze. Seems Masonic or Odd Fellows but somethings wrong. Pythagoras said "Offer not your right hand easily to everyone". This is the hand shake of the Gnostic. But check this out these are left hands not right hands. I cannot find another example anywhere but right hands represent strength and left hands weakness and judgement. did the foundry blow it or is there a reason for this symbolism?

The left hand is closest to the heart, a left hand shake is a token between fraternal brothers

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Years ago I found a curtain tie-back of 'hands shaking' that looked very similar to this... now where did I put that piece?

Dave

 

[invent4hir]

Years ago I found a curtain tie-back of 'hands shaking' that looked very similar to this... now where did I put that piece?

Dave

Dave,

"now where did I put that piece?" Murphy's Law: You'll find it someday when you least expect to.

Seriously though, I'll Google curtain tie-back of hands shaking and see what pops up.

 

[invent4hir]

Qball, if you're unable to find the artifact in the book I mentioned above, what ages are the burials in the cemetery? Knowing the ages can help zero in on the type/style of coffin hardware used at the time. From that hopefully you'll be able to confirm it was originally part of a coffin - or conclude it wasn't. Sometimes eliminating possible IDs is helpful.

Are there any Masonic or other organization symbols on the tombstones? Was there a church previously associated with the cemetery? Any surviving records may reveal if someone interred was a member of an organization.

 

[Qball]

I am now leaning back towards this item being a finial and not a handle. This was found in the Masonic corner of the cemetery but the reversed imagery was confusing. The suggestion that the left hand is closest to the heart the symbolism of which dates to at least the Romans seems the most plausible explanation. Also if one looks at the object in the vertical orientation the hand, reaching down from heaven to Shepard the loved one into the kingdom of God is consistent with other right handed motif. Your suggestions have been most helpful in deciphering this enigma. Thank You very much for the reference material going forward, Q