Fleur-de-lis Rosette, Gilt Infantry Overcoat, Flat Iron Trivet, and more...

[OutdoorAdv]

Its been a very slow year for me detecting and it had been about 5 weeks since I last went detecting. But, I was able to get out for a bit last week totaling about 16 hours in the field. It was HOT and slow going with lots of bugs! However, I did end up with some really cool items, my favorites being an interesting Fleur-de-lis and crown lead rosette, and a huge infantry overcoat button with a lot of gilt left. I also got a complete iron shoe buckle frame and an interesting (very small) flat iron trivet (stand).

The non-ferrous: (shoe buckle and trivet included)



The ferrous:



I'm calling this a rosette because it has 3 loops on the back where it looks like it was sewn onto something. I believe its lead based on its patina and weight, but it has some flaking so I suppose it could be a pewter alloy with a higher lead content? It has a Fleur-de-lis with 4 stars (*edit: not stars, but 4 smaller Fleur de lis) and a crown on top. I'm open to input on what it might be or what it might mean.



This is my first overcoat button and my nicest CW era button. It has a lot of gilt left and cleaned up nicely. The backmark is "D. EVANS & CO. *ATTLEBORO MASS*"



I've dug a few iron frame fragments and iron chapes and tongues... I've preserved complete iron shoe buckles for friends, but I hadnt found a complete iron frame myself. So I was pretty pleased to get this one. It's solid and preserved very nice.



This flat iron trivet was something I didn't even know existed. Its tiny and apparently a stand for a very small flat iron. It crossed my mind when I pulled it from the dirt, that it looked like a flat iron associated item, but I figured it was way too small. Thanks to my friend Ahab8 for the proper ID of it and to my friend Bill D. for the proper (trivet) terminology. Love digging things I didn't know existed and learning about them.



Would love some more info on this all iron hammer with a chisel end. There is a similar one on the Crouch book, in the artillery section, however I believe this one was just used around the house. Maybe a mason hammer, farrier hammer or blacksmith hammer... or just a tack hammer! Anyway I thought it was really cool and preserved nicely.



You guys can laugh at me for this, but I did glue this horrendous rattail spoon back together... had it not had a sweet rattail on it, I would have chucked these pewter bits into the junk pile. It came out of the dirt in 3 pieces. I wanted to practice putting it back together for my next-awesome-yet-to-be-dug pewter item that needs assembly So I coated them in Elmers, tacked them with super glue, and filled in the cracks with epoxy. Happy with that technique.



Hand forged felling axe, with a stamp of "Cannon" on the head. My friend Z.K. sent me the book "American Axes" that has a list of makers. Unfortunately I don't see a maker listed for "Cannon". Complete axe heads are some of my favorite iron relics to preserve.



Cool mortise lock with a copper or brass lock plate. I like preserving mixed material items, but I've yet to find a material to keep the copper or brass from being exposed to electrolysis, so I can retain its patina. I tried Vaseline on this one, but the heat in the electrolyte melted it away in an hour! I've tried wax and tape in the past... I'll think of something else to try next time.



Hand forged fireplace shovel I wish it was complete... but this is a household item I would consider more personal, since it had a use in daily life. The bracket is hand forged and riveted. Neat piece and preserved nicely.



In the non-ferrous group shot there is a small, round tin. When I shook it, I sounded like fluid was inside. I had been wondering what was in there for the last 5 days, but I wanted to finish electrolysis and take my pictures for this post, before I destroyed it! So after photos yesterday, I carefully opened it... no gold coins and diamonds in there... just nasty water. BUT there was a surprise, because the tin was lettered. It says "Silver Gem -One Cent- Chewing Gum" and I added a non-dug online example.



Close up's of the non-ferrous






... And the trash and iron. There is a 3 foot, 6 inch strap hinge at the top with a clinched rose head and hand forged nuts and bolts.



Thank for looking and happy hunting everyone.

 

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[Scrappy]

Very nice assortment Brad. The trivet is something I hadn't seen before so a great ID by Abe. The iron buckle is absolutely killer - and it looks like you did a great job on it like you did mine. However your buckle seems a bit "beefier" than mine. Great button and rosette too bud. Thanks for taking the time and care on this thoughtful post.

 

[ARC]

Heck... looks like you found the whole shop... Looks like a fantastic site full of history oozing from the pores of dirt.

I would call a couple of those items "banners" in my book.

Well done and then some.

 

[Z.K.]

Your posts are my favorite.

I'll have to wade into a fuller reply on the objects when I have more time later, but I'm thinking we need to add a new feature to TNET: the merit badge. You get a "Perseverance in Restoration" merit badge for putting together than totally fragged spoon head!!

 

[Scrappy]

Your posts are my favorite.

I'll have to wade into a fuller reply on the objects when I have more time later, but I'm thinking we need to add a new feature to TNET: the merit badge. You get a "Perseverance in Restoration" merit badge for putting together than totally fragged spoon head!!

Seriously true. Posts like this are a real treat, and Brad spends a tremendous amount of time restoring and preserving. Posts of this type are under-appreciated imho, and snuffed out by posts featuring silver Rosie's cleaned with Bartenders friend.

 

[CRUSADER]

It is what you call a rosette - 18th C.

 

[Carolina Tom]

Very well done as usual sir.

You have a lot of really nice relics. The iron buckle frame is really sweet. I like the watch winder and chape too.

Best of luck to you in the field.

 

[Tony (Michigan)]

OutdoorAdv, all I can say is "Wow!"

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Very well done as usual sir.

You have a lot of really nice relics. The iron buckle frame is really sweet. I like the watch winder and chape too.

Best of luck to you in the field.

Thanks a ton Tom! I'm glad you brought up that "watch winder". I thought thats what it was too, but it doesnt have a square bit on the bottom where it would wind the movement. Instead it has a tiny hole. Maybe the square bit was iron and inserted in that tiny hole at one point? If not a winder, I have no clue what it is... but looks cast and old.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

It is what you call a rosette - 18th C.

Sweet! Thanks man I was hoping you'd show up on this post. Great to know its 18th C. and I'm guessing French? I googled some for "Fleur de lis and crown" and found some similar images, but nothing that was the same. Now that I'm writing this, I just picked it back up and its NOT a Fleur de lis with stars around it, but rather 4 smaller Fleur de lis in each corner!

 

[Steve in PA]

Great group of finds Brad. I suspect the little trivet was for a collar iron. I found one once and I can get you the dimensions and a picture when I get home. I have also found a flat iron trivet. It's a nice iron relic - right up your alley

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Great group of finds Brad. I suspect the little trivet was for a collar iron. I found one once and I can get you the dimensions and a picture when I get home. I have also found a flat iron trivet. It's a nice iron relic - right up your alley

Thanks man... That one is NICE! You're right, its totally up my alley. Definitely post your collar iron on this thread when you get a chance.

I found this last week too, but at a more modern spot. It's much bigger than the cast one. Do you think this is a trivet as well? Its not forged or cast, but rather stamped from sheet... so I think its probably late 1800's or 1900's... cant be any older than that. This I wont preserve.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Very nice assortment Brad. The trivet is something I hadn't seen before so a great ID by Abe. The iron buckle is absolutely killer - and it looks like you did a great job on it like you did mine. However your buckle seems a bit "beefier" than mine. Great button and rosette too bud. Thanks for taking the time and care on this thoughtful post.

Your posts are my favorite.

I'll have to wade into a fuller reply on the objects when I have more time later, but I'm thinking we need to add a new feature to TNET: the merit badge. You get a "Perseverance in Restoration" merit badge for putting together than totally fragged spoon head!!

Seriously true. Posts like this are a real treat, and Brad spends a tremendous amount of time restoring and preserving. Posts of this type are under-appreciated imho, and snuffed out by posts featuring silver Rosie's cleaned with Bartenders friend.

Thank you both very much I really do appreciate to hear when people enjoy the things I put together for tnet.

Ken, I was hoping the "Cannon" axe maker would be in the book you gave me. Makes me wonder if it was an earlier blacksmith or something. The "Cannon" stamp is deep in the iron and not like the lettered marks on other axes I've seen. It's too bad there wasnt a handle with that spoon, otherwise it would have been worth putting back together. ha

Steve, that buckle held up great... trying to remember who else I preserved a shoe buckle for... Abe maybe? I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure this was the third iron buckle frame I've zapped and it was nice to have finally have a complete iron one.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Heck... looks like you found the whole shop... Looks like a fantastic site full of history oozing from the pores of dirt.

I would call a couple of those items "banners" in my book.

Well done and then some.

Thanks a ton man! I like that rosette more and more and keep finding new things on it. When I first dug it, I didn't see the Fleur de lis, and now I just realized what I thought were stars are actually 4 more Fleur de lis. It's definitely the coolest rosette I've found.

OutdoorAdv, all I can say is "Wow!"

Thanks a ton Tony.

 

[Steve in PA]

Thanks man... That one is NICE! You're right, its totally up my alley. Definitely post your collar iron on this thread when you get a chance.

I found this last week too, but at a more modern spot. It's much bigger than the cast one. Do you think this is a trivet as well? Its not forged or cast, but rather stamped from sheet... so I think its probably late 1800's or 1900's... cant be any older than that. This I wont preserve.

View attachment 1463938

I'm not sure about that one Brad. All the one's I've seen have open work designs. Don in SJ has several nice colonial trivits. Maybe he'll post some pictures of his.

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[Davers]

Seriously true. Posts like this are a real treat, and Brad spends a tremendous amount of time restoring and preserving. Posts of this type are under-appreciated imho, and snuffed out by posts featuring silver Rosie's cleaned with Bartenders friend.

I wish that I had ODA Patience.

He does Great work on the Iron & has well put together posts.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

I wish that I had ODA Patience.

He does Great work on the Iron & has well put together posts.

Its more like "ODA OCD" Thanks Dave. I really appreciate it.

 

[dirtlooter]

awesome collection of everything, I have a trivet also but not as nice as yours

 

[DownNDirty]

Thanks a ton Tom! I'm glad you brought up that "watch winder". I thought thats what it was too, but it doesnt have a square bit on the bottom where it would wind the movement. Instead it has a tiny hole. Maybe the square bit was iron and inserted in that tiny hole at one point? If not a winder, I have no clue what it is... but looks cast and old.

View attachment 1463931

I found a similar one yesterday, with the hole in the bottom. My theory is the same as yours Brad-that the inside of the hole is squared and the watch stem is also square.