Tiny decorative brass threaded thing

[Iron Buzz]

Found in a farm field that had a house in the 2nd half of the 19th century. Made of brass, little scrolls cast into the head. May possibly have been a middle piece broken off of that end. The threaded part is solid... not hollow. There is a ring at the end of the threaded part.

I've never seen anything like this before.

 

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[Mud Hut]

It looks like the lid to a Holy Water vial.

 

[Iron Buzz]

It looks like the lid to a Holy Water vial.

What would be the purpose of that ringlike thing at the bottom? For blowing Holy Water Bubbles?

 

[Mud Hut]

an internal chain to keep from loosing the cap.

 

[Iron Buzz]

an internal chain to keep from loosing the cap.

Good point. I see that some of them do have such chains.

 

[Tony in SC]

Could be a filler hole plug for an oiler/lubricator. Going by the threads it is very early.

 

[dts52]

Interesting find! Looks like the top was a figure of a person, maybe someone praying?
dts

 

[Iron Buzz]

Interesting find! Looks like the top was a figure of a person, maybe someone praying?
dts

No telling what was on top, if anything. It does look like something may have been broken off there. The bits that are left are just scroll-like decorations, I think, but I do see what you're saying... they also could be a pair of arms, with the hands up near the face.

It is interesting, isn't it?

 

[Iron Buzz]

Could be a filler hole plug for an oiler/lubricator. Going by the threads it is very early.

Do the threads appear to be on a taper? I'm really not sure, but it kind of looks like that.

Would surely not be any sort of drain plug, at any rate. It would take forever to drain anything from such a small hole.