Lead charm?

[mainer]

Hey all got this on the mud flatts today and was wondering what you think it is? And how old? Its made of lead, as its heavy for its size. Just smidge over an inch long. Looks like a charm for a necklace or something? Let me know what you think.

 

[ivan salis]

might not be lead --but rather pewter --very similar to lead ( since "old" pewter was mostly lead * with other metals mixed in to make it hard unlike softer "pure" lead -----pewter was often used in the past for many items---there is a modern lead free form of pewter these days *) -- that looks to be a tiki or totem type of effigy figure --used by hawaiians and some native american groups --the "ugly face" was to ward off bad luck / evil spirits

 

[mainer]

Could be pewter Ivan. Do you think the salt water would eat up pewter? I know all my pewter buttons are eaten up on land. Or can there be different alloys for different things? I thought this may have had some age to it but dont know for sure?

 

[Lucas]

Yup, Tiki, the first man... Polynesia's Adam.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiki

 

[mainer]

Thanks Lucas. Any guess on age?

 

[ivan salis]

there are differant levels of quailty of pewter "mixes" -- as it is a "jewelry" type item --my money is on pewter rather than lead --lead is too soft and easily messed up -- pewter tends to be much harder -- it looks to me like a native american or hawaiian type effigy tiki / totem type figure ( to ward off bad spirits / bad luck)-- there is moden lead free pewter -- and old "leaded" pewter . -- age hard to say --- ivan

 

[mainer]

I got ya now Ivan, thanks for clearing it up.

 

[Lucas]

Polynesia was "discovered" by popular culture in the 1920's/30's, and in a big way in WWII.

Pewter is typically eighty-something to 99% tin.

 

[Bramblefind]

I could be very wrong - but the first thing I thought of when I saw this was a piece posted here last year that ended up being a zipper pull-

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,286719.0.html

 

[mainer]

Im not going to say it isnt bramblefind. Thanks for the link.

 

[Silver Searcher]

Modern gift shop charm

SS

 

[steelheadwill]

If anyone can recall, (or has) the film 'The Exorcist'
the face on that charm is a dead ringer for the Iraqi site statue that appears
twice in the film, once in the first scene, and I believe in Father Karras dream.
They name the demon I believe. Creepy find.

 

[Lucas]

One in E-2 had wings...

Tiki... not creepy. People willingly watching Linda Blair projectile vomiting, that's creepy.

 

[Breezie]

there are differant levels of quailty of pewter "mixes" -- as it is a "jewelry" type item --my money is on pewter rather than lead --lead is too soft and easily messed up -- pewter tends to be much harder -- it looks to me like a native american or hawaiian type effigy tiki / totem type figure ( to ward off bad spirits / bad luck)-- there is moden lead free pewter -- and old "leaded" pewter . -- age hard to say --- ivan

Yeppers, I agree. Interesting find, Breezie

 

[trikikiwi]

I too, thought 'Hawaiian' as soon as I saw it

I suspect the little guy is sending a cheeky message - he appears to be 'slapping' his buttocks

Mike