✅ SOLVED Posting this colonial brass artifact again .....

[Bill D. (VA)]

I am really stumped on this one, and even the renowned archaeologist Ivor Noel-Hume had no answer when I contacted him about this yesterday. I've found several of these over the years at colonial sites, and they're made of brass or copper alloy with a semi-circular cross section. One has a gorgeous green patina and serpentine design. If anyone has a clue about its function and age your input would be very much appreciated.

 

[Bruce R]

They seem too thick to be ornamental, are there any nail holes ?

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

They seem too thick to be ornamental, are there any nail holes ?

No holes Bruce ....

 

[TomPA]

Bill, Am I correct in my assumption that this item is tapered, or is it an optical illusion? Somewhere in the back of my mind is a voice telling me that i found a 2" piece like yours up here in western PA. I've looked for it, but it may have gotten tossed.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Bill, Am I correct in my assumption that this item is tapered, or is it an optical illusion? Somewhere in the back of my mind is a voice telling me that i found a 2" piece like yours up here in western PA. I've looked for it, but it may have gotten tossed.

Tom - your eyes aren't fooling you - it's definitely tapered. But I just got an ID for it from a knowledgeable friend. Apparently it's part of a long, heavy handle that was used on 3-legged "posnet" cooking pots from the 17th and 18th centuries. You can google those to see what I'm talking about. Maybe that's what your piece is too.

 

[Bruce R]

They cooked food in brass? I would never have thought that.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

They cooked food in brass? I would never have thought that.

They seem to have made everything out of brass in the colonial days. I would imagine iron and steel were more expensive