🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Need help with an item

[BennyV]

Hello. Please see the pictures of my item below. I am not sure if it is part of something larger or if it’s just a single item. Found it in the marina where I have my tackle shop. The property has quite a bit of history.

 

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[BennyV]

Forgot to mention it’s bendable

 

[cajundetector]

Forgot to mention it’s bendable

Neat! Possibly pewter?

 

[BennyV]

Neat! Possibly pewter?

Possibly.

 

[invent4hir]

Looks like a ballerina made of lead.

 

[dz302]

Hi and nice find. The piece strongly resembles a spinning Ballerina from a wind up jewelry box Mid to early 20th century style.

dz

 

[Tony in SC]

I was thinking music box also.

 

[Mud Hut]

There is one very similar on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/283815943239

 

[Bucket Lister]

It also reminds me of a lead tabletop RPG miniature, but I think the music box figurine is more likely.

 

[Red-Coat]

There is one very similar on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/283815943239

Interesting that the seller lists it as a “glutlöscher” in the form of a dancer (liberally translated as “Glow Extinguishing Dancer”). I’m perfectly sure it isn’t. A glutlöscher is an “ember extinguisher” or “ember killer” used to extinguish a cigarette or cigar without having to crush it in an ashtray. They’re usually tubular.

If it has any relationship to smoking paraphernalia, it might be a pipe tamper. I’ve seen them in all kinds of novelty figural forms, including dancers/ballerinas.

 

[searcher]

From the coloring and patina in the pictures, this tiny dancer appears to be brass or bronze.

It very well could be a pipe tamper.
Measure the diameter of the base and see if it's the correct size for a tamper.

 

[BennyV]

There is one very similar on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/283815943239

I think we have a bingo

 

[Red-Coat]

I think we have a bingo

Yes, but it's not what the seller believes it to be (ie not a “glutlöscher”).

 

[BennyV]

Yes, but it's not what the seller believes it to be (ie not a “glutlöscher”).

Gotta watch out for the gutloscjers

 

[$MELTER-1]

Forgot to mention it’s bendable

I know before plastics became the norm PO folk made do with lead toys and figurines which you got there.that one escaped the war scrap.

 

[Gare]

Could it possibly be a Board game piece for marking a spot or place on a Board ?

 

[Bucket Lister]

Forgot to mention it’s bendable

In what way, and how easily? Soft metal or springiness or something else? It doesn't look (to me) like it's supposed to be bendable.

Lensing your pic directly didn't turn up much, but lensing the results produced a few more.

The Web at large seems to have as many guesses/opinions as to what it is as folks here.

 

[Bucket Lister]

Could it possibly be a Board game piece for marking a spot or place on a Board ?

I thought of that. Some board games did utilize brass tokens, but usually for commemorative editions due to the expense vs. white metal.

FWIW, Monopoly never had a ballerina that I'm aware of or was able to find.

How does the ballerina move in chess?

 

[BennyV]

I know before plastics became the norm PO folk made do with lead toys and figurines which you got there.that one escaped the war scrap.

It seems like lead but the color is throwing me off. Has tarnish like you would see on copper. Maybe it’s an alloy.

 

[Bucket Lister]

It seems like lead but the color is throwing me off. Has tarnish like you would see on copper. Maybe it’s an alloy.

Brass or bronze. Most--if not all--listings have been brass.