Earspoon/Toothpick age and is there any value to an item like this

turtlefoot13 · Aug 30, 2009

Hi Everyone,

I am totally out of my element with this one. Can anyone out there help me date this ear spoon (or send me to a website to research it)? I had a local antique dealer tell me that it was probably ox bone and was mid 19th century +/- forty years. Is there any way to narrow the age down from approx 1810-1890? Is this N. American, European, Far Eastern or

It measures just a hair over 3 inches. The spoon part is approximately 1/8th inch in diameter. The three toothpicks measure from 1 1/8" to 1 1/4"

One more question; are ear spoons that are not made of precious metal still collectible or have value?

Below are a couple of pics. Thanks in advance for any help that you might be able to give me.

Thanks,
Doug

ivan salis · Aug 31, 2009

Re: Earspoon / Earpick age and is there any value to an item like this

might be ivory . if so its valuible .

trikikiwi · Aug 31, 2009

Re: Earspoon / Earpick age and is there any value to an item like this

You should maybe amend the Title to Earspoon/Toothpick, which you acknowledge it is.
And very cool it is :icon_thumleft:

I think your relic is made from bone, from what I can see.
Mike

turtlefoot13 · Aug 31, 2009

Re: Earspoon / Earpick age and is there any value to an item like this

trikikiwi said:
You should maybe amend the Title to Earspoon/Toothpick, which you acknowledge it is.
And very cool it is
I think your relic is made from bone, from what I can see.
Mike

Good idea! The only reason that I put ear pick on there is that some websites called them ear picks instead of ear spoons. I just wish I could date it a little more accurately than an 80 year range.

Thanks everyone so far!

Doug

IronSpike · Aug 31, 2009

You may want to contact this museum in Colorado. Item #80 (no image) sounds like a match :icon_thumright:

http://history.fcgov.com/cdm4/resul...LL&CISOROOT=/ma&CISOBOX1=ivory&CISOSTART=1,61

turtlefoot13 · Sep 1, 2009

Ironspike,

Thank You so much for this link. I will email them in the morning.

Doug

I think that I am going to green check this item is I do know what it is. Thanks for the help everyone, and if anyone can give me a tighter date range I would appreciate it.