Need Help Identifying Antique

[everett2]

Among some military memorabilia from the Spanish American War, I found the item I will picture below. It is made of steel, is eight inches long, and is only about a sixteenth of an inch thick but is still very rigid. I have no idea what it might be. The ridges behind the head are quite sharp, almost like something that might be used to saw something, but it would be hard to handle. If anyone has any idea what this might be, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Treasure of Victoria Peak - Grab it through Amazon!

[DocBeav]

Wow, that is strange isn't it? I have no idea what it is but it looks interesting! Hope you find out!

Can you post a bigger picture? Can't zoom in on it when I click it.

 

[Prospecting P.]

whatever it is it sure is cool looking,

 

[surf]

Hello everett.

Welcome to Tnet, and thanks for showing us this figural object. Sharp, you say?

I wonder if it is some colonial figural Fleam.. Just a WAG, you understand. I sure would like to see more photos. Is that a dog's head?

 

[Stevie]

Among some military memorabilia from the Spanish American War, I found the item I will picture below. It is made of steel, is eight inches long, and is only about a sixteenth of an inch thick but is still very rigid. I have no idea what it might be. The ridges behind the head are quite sharp, almost like something that might be used to saw something, but it would be hard to handle. If anyone has any idea what this might be, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=752762"/>

Hi it looked like it could be from a iron gate perhaps

 

[everett2]

I'm really having problems attaching pictures, but per DocBeav, I'll try again. Meanwhile, let me mention that the eye and the wavy marks behind the head are actually cut through the metal. Any other marks are just stains.

 

[Reed Lukens]

Maybe the top rail from an old miniature harp or another musical instrument.

 

[bigchuck52]

Perhaps a piece of weather vane?

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

The results of a bored soldier with a file and a metal stamping?

 

[mcb66]

I don't know what it is, but it looks Celtic to me.

 

[Bryanhashemi]

part of a weather vane was my first thought also. thats a wierd piece you have. cant wait to hear other thoughts!

 

[yaxthri]

I know what the top part is: it's the decorative stem on the bow of a venetian gondola.



So my guess is it's Italian.
Maybe this will help for further search...

 

[Bryanhashemi]

its only 8 inches long though

 

[yaxthri]

I meant of course that it is made to look this way, not that it actually is a stem... My mistake, didn't clarify that...

 

[Bryanhashemi]

well that looks close to it. Maybe on a really small gondola!!

 

[Breezie]

I think it is an Italian letter opener, and it's design is symbolic of various Venetian aspects very much like the Gondola is symbolic as Yaxthri pictured. Here is some history:

The bow one is called dolfin (dolphin) because of the resemblance with the muzzle of the dolphins and its shape changed across the centuries too; in the upper part it recalls the Corno del Dose (Horn of the Duke, the headgear used instead of a crown), in the shank the meandering of the Grand Canal, in the comb the city´s Sestieri (districts in number of six) and the Giudecca (in the opposing tooth), while the decorated points between tooth and tooth represent the main Islands of the Lagoon.

Venetian Boats, The Gondola


Breezie

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I know what the top part is: it's the decorative stem on the bow of a venetian gondola.

View attachment 754529

I think its a great observation by yaxthri

 

[surf]

I know what the top part is: it's the decorative stem on the bow of a venetian gondola.

View attachment 754529

So my guess is it's Italian.
Maybe this will help for further search...

Well done, yaxthri & Breezie!

 

[DCMatt]

I think its a great observation by yaxthri

Agree. A very keen observation. No question that is what it represents.

So is it Breezie's letter opener?

DCMatt

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I meant of course that it is made to look this way, not that it actually is a stem... My mistake, didn't clarify that...

Most of us knew exactly what you meant lol.