Decorative Iron Elephant & ?candle holder?

[Kimmie]

Decorative Iron Elephant & ?candle holder?

This weekend, the kids and I were going through our treasure box containing past finds, and I thought I'd post two items that have stumped us.

The first is an elephant made of iron. He's missing the front of his face and the trunk. There is a hole in the middle - I don't know if there was another half to him, or if he was attached as a decorative item to something.

The second is a mystery. The kids & hubby think it's a candle holder, I'm not so sure. I thought maybe it was part of a garden tool, like a wooden handle fit in the hole. But the back is very flat, almost like the piece was attached to something flat.

I tried to get various angles of both items. I'd love to hear your ideas!

 

[Tigger]

Re: Decorative Iron Elephant & ?candle holder?

How about an elephant bank? Like this one: http://www.dakotapaul.com/items/showitem.asp?iid=360

Candle holder would've been my first guess too, but I'd be concerned about the flame being too close to the wall? I'm curious to hear from others on this one.
Tigger

 

[Kimmie]

Re: Decorative Iron Elephant & ?candle holder?

Any other thoughts on the second item? It's been driving me crazy for over a year!

Kimmie

 

[stefen]

Re: Decorative Iron Elephant & ?candle holder?

I agree with Tigger regarding it being a bank...I have a cast iron pig bank (late 1890's) thats almost identical...

 

[Tigger]

Re: Decorative Iron Elephant & ?candle holder?

I took another look, the two holes in the second item are different sizes. IF it was a candle holder, maybe one of them held a reflector (to reflect the light back, also would protect the wall), and/or some kind of drip catcher

Hang in there, someone will know!

Tigger