Pipe, Gem Holder or Nothing

[Planko]

Hey Everyone,

New to the forum and asking for help. I found this unique piece in Delta County, TX a few weeks ago. It was within a stone throw of a Golodrina point I found a couple weeks before that. I have posted on another site but nothing confirmed so I thought I would try here.

Recessed line on the artifact does not go to the end. It is raised.

Yes I reposted due to a recommendation.

Any ideas?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

How to Research for Treasure Hunting and Metal Detecting From Lead Generation to Vetting - Grab it through Amazon!

[sandchip]

...Nice point. Very Nice.

I don't understand the reasoning of getting it authenticated and graded. That is just an opinion. If you found it...

My thoughts exactly.

Not buying the insulator theory by any stretch. Have no idea what it is, but it's not an insulator. Porcelain insulators of the era suggested were made of a high grade refined clay, not with the visible bits of "aggregate" in the object in question, so tumbling still wouldn't leave it looking like that. Even your earliest ceramic insulators dating 1847 onward are of much higher grade clay than that. The hole in the modern ones shown was molded with the rest of the insulator, not afterwards, which would eliminate the reject theory.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[Planko]

Thanks for the feedback. I guess we are back to square one or two. Hummmm....

Ok, I do have to ask why not get it graded and authenticated as a Golondrina and it's quality? Seems some are against it and I am trying to understand the why. Is it that last part with the, "If you found it..." I did and have a video to prove it.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Grim, I think you are spot on, great catch.

Thanks.

 

[Relicgrubber]

My thoughts exactly.

Not buying the insulator theory by any stretch. Have no idea what it is, but it's not an insulator. Porcelain insulators of the era suggested were made of a high grade refined clay, not with the visible bits of "aggregate" in the object in question, so tumbling still wouldn't leave it looking like that. Even your earliest ceramic insulators dating 1847 onward are of much higher grade clay than that. The hole in the modern ones shown was molded with the rest of the insulator, not afterwards, which would eliminate the reject theory.

My point exactly. I was being facetious when I said it was a reject...

 

[joshuaream]

Thanks for the feedback. I guess we are back to square one or two. Hummmm....

Ok, I do have to ask why not get it graded and authenticated as a Golondrina and it's quality? Seems some are against it and I am trying to understand the why. Is it that last part with the, "If you found it..." I did and have a video to prove it.

To many people a COA on a personal find relic just looks odd, you found it and know it's authentic. There have been a couple of cases were someone's personal find was "killed" for whatever reason, and then you get into a separate degree of arguments.

On the whatsit piece. If they can't identify it, they likely won't paper it. They won't issue a kill letter, but it'll probably just come back with an "I haven't seen anything like this." If this group of people (including some from your area) can't ID it, I'm not sure an authenticator will be able to.

On the point. If you want to get a COA, I'd go with someone local. Texas river finds tend to have less polish and more hinges than points from other areas, and that could be a red flag if the Authenticator hasn't handled many of them. And local buyers who would appreciate your Golondrina might not place any value on the opinion of someone in Ohio, Kentucky or California.

If you took your point to a relic show in Texas, you'd get lots of free opinions and probably some decent offers without the COA or the point leaving your sight.

 

[uniface]

^ ^ ^ This ^ ^ ^

 

[Planko]

Thank you Josh. Makes sense. It is funny, not haha funny, that another site I had people telling me I had to get it authenticated and graded to determine what the value was. That is the whole reason for getting it done.

 

[Indian Steve]

I still think it might be a socket for a bow drill fire kit. I've been making fire with a bow drill for over 30 years and have lost my sockets several times over the years. I believe that the drilled through hole was for hanging on a string to make it harder to loose. If it didn't have the drilled hole, i would say definitely a socket.