Small brass figurine pin from 1800?s site

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Found today at cellar hole with occupancy from 1850-1950. I think it is meant to be worn as a pin, actual iron pin gone. Anyone have an ID or date range for this?

 

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[crashbandicoot]

I have no idea,but I do like things like that,that,s a good find.

 

[Rmeav8r]

Nice find! Reminds me of the old cartoon depictions of crooked politicians. It might be related to something similar. Just a thought.

 

[crashbandicoot]

Nice find! Reminds me of the old cartoon depictions of crooked politicians. It might be related to something similar. Just a thought.

You might be on to something there.

 

[ARC]

Pin... IMO.

 

[Lenrac2]

Neat find! Congrats!! No idea though!

 

[invent4hir]

Fascinating artifact. Not sure on the ID but comparing the 3rd and 4th photos, the pair of holes in the third make me wonder if it was strapped to something at 1 time. Do those holes look homemade?

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Fascinating artifact. Not sure on the ID but comparing the 3rd and 4th photos, the pair of holes in the third make me wonder if it was strapped to something at 1 time. Do those holes look homemade?

The holes in the back appear to be cuts in the brass to fold and create the pin pivot point and catch

 

[Retired Sarge]

Seems to be sort of crude in an artistic sense, like for a kid, home made, or a cheap advertising gimmick. I've poured over a ton of brass brooches, pins, etc from the 1800s and 1900s on Google and can't find anything that crude in construction.

Then again Google doesn't have a picture of everything out there.......

I tried Political Satire, Niagara Falls Rider, Mammy and Mammy Doll, etc, with no luck.

 

[Mud Hut]

For some reason it reminds me of a Black Americana piece, some of which were very crude. The apron she is wearing is very similar to the aprons always depicted on Black American pieces.

 

[Lenrac2]

Kind of a Raggedy Ann vibe too but that would not be until after 1915. I do like Mud Huts take on it.

 

[DCMatt]

Maybe a WWI era Fumsup - good luck charm similar to a kewpie doll. I didn't find an exact match but there were several styles.

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Thx All for your ideas. The arms and legs of the piece I found have a rope weave pattern. I found this Bellhop pin with rope arms and legs. Not a match, but maybe a clue.

 

[Lost Signal]

In the history of design, there are lots of examples where a "product" is made with a new material, but is made to imitate the original material. Think of the metal side panels on a 1970's station wagon that were made to look like the wood that would have been used originally.

This object reminds me of old corn husk dolls. Some of them probably had braided arms and legs and the vertical ridges are like those on a corn husk. Not that this is a doll, but maybe a pin or ornament intended to look like a corn husk doll.

IDK. I've never seen anything really like it.

 

[DCMatt]

Maybe a WWI era Fumsup - good luck charm similar to a kewpie doll. I didn't find an exact match but there were several styles.

I did a little more reading on 'Fumsup'. It seems they've been around since the 1880's and became quite popular during WWI. However the WWI versions typically had a head and/or part of the body made of wood (like the pic I posted). Those are sometimes called 'Touch wud' charms - like "Knock on wood" in the US and "Touch wood" in the UK - for luck or protection.

If this one is a Fumsup, it is earlier than WWI.

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

I did a little more reading on 'Fumsup'. It seems they've been around since the 1880's and became quite popular during WWI. However the WWI versions typically had a head and/or part of the body made of wood (like the pic I posted). Those are sometimes called 'Touch wud' charms - like "Knock on wood" in the US and "Touch wood" in the UK - for luck or protection.

If this one is a Fumsup, it is earlier than WWI.

Thx Matt. The Fumsup theory fits in many ways. Looks to be the same size as the majority of the examples online, the worn face could very well be a baby which would match and the pin attachment also seems common for this good luck piece. The era works as well. The only things not aligning are the body being striped or cornstalk and the rope arms and legs. None of the examples online have these characteristics I could find, but maybe just unique to this Fumsup example.

 

[Steve in PA]

Folk art piece. We made ones just like that in grade school back in the 1920s.

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Folk art piece. We made ones just like that in grade school back in the 1920s.

Wait a minute Steve, I thought you were excavating Rev War sites with the archies in grade school? No time for arts and crafts in Ligonier back in the day, but did not think you were that old?

 

[Steve in PA]

Wait a minute Steve, I thought you were excavating Rev War sites with the archies in grade school? No time for arts and crafts in Ligonier back in the day, but did not think you were that old?

No you got that all wrong. I was excavating French & Indian War sites with the archies when I was in Kindergarten.
Just kidding about making little dolls for you to find

 

[invent4hir]

Steve in PA, not to hijack this thread, but its great to see your contributions recognized