Unknown Pewter Item

[Ripcon]

Here's a quarter sized object, made of pewter, that I found at a circa. 1850 plantation site in Mississippi.
My first inclination is that maybe it could be some type of wax seal?? The raised image appears to show a ship with either 3 masts or 3 dragon heads (yes, I've got an imagination). Any assistance as to what this could be or could have gone to? Thanks.

 

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[DCMatt]

... or a newborn wombat dancing with a broken beer stein... In other words, I can't make anything out it.

If you think it is a wax seal, press it into some wax and see what you get.

Sadly, your pictures aren't good enough to work with in a photo editor to try to bring out more details.

Also, please don't take pics of relics in your hand. The camera tends to focus on your finger prints and blurs the relic.

Lay the relic flat on a medium dark, non-reflective surface. Use natural light if possible.

 

[DCMatt]

How about this...

An artistic rendition of a Pelican in her piety. Like the Louisiana state seal:



It's hard to tell because the relic is deteriorated considerably but to the right is a young pelican with open beak waiting to be fed. Possibly another next to the mother. At least it's better than the wombat theory.

 

[DCMatt]

Do an image search on "pelican piety matrix". Apparently, a popular motif for seal matrices dating WAY back...

 

[bradyboy]

I'm thinking the erratic mark is actually some sort of metal or other adhesive, around the image, looks like it cradled something
seal, stone .......
brady

 

[DCMatt]

I'm thinking the erratic mark is actually some sort of metal or other adhesive, around the image, looks like it cradled something
seal, stone .......
brady

I considered that. But the symmetry of the two triangle “open beaks” convinced me otherwise. They are too similar to be erratic.

 

[Ripcon]

How about this...

An artistic rendition of a Pelican in her piety. Like the Louisiana state seal:

View attachment 1901078

It's hard to tell because the relic is deteriorated considerably but to the right is a young pelican with open beak waiting to be fed. Possibly another next to the mother. At least it's better than the wombat theory.

Thanks!

 

[Ripcon]

The more I look at this piece, I believe you nailed it DCMatt !
It never ceases to amaze me how talented you and others are at identifying things on this forum!