Wampum?? Talisman/Amulet? Other? Flat Button. 1683 Property, Mass

[btjbtj]

Hi friends, John found these two items today. A flat button and something we can't quite figure out yet. Looking forward to your input. Thanks for looking! -Lisa & John

 

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[trapperart]

No help with ID but congrats on your finds

 

[btjbtj]

No help with ID but congrats on your finds

Thanks, Art. This one has asked puzzled for sure. -L&J

 

[port ewen ace]

look um like pewter -----could it be ___________________ from the Money Pit--------or is it a wabbit

 

[btjbtj]

look um like pewter -----could it be ___________________ from the Money Pit--------or is it a wabbit

Your guess is as good as ours. I think it looks kind of primitive.

 

[Scrappy]

Wampum, where I grew up, was beads made from clam shells. They also had an official exchange rate in the colonies in the 17th century. I dream of someday finding one while digging.

Not sure what you have here but it looks wicked old. Good luck Lisa!

 

[btjbtj]

Wampum, where I grew up, was beads made from clam shells. They also had an official exchange rate in the colonies in the 17th century. I dream of someday finding one while digging.

Not sure what you have here but it looks wicked old. Good luck Lisa!

Right, Steve, thanks. I know our local tribes used beads/shells. I guess I was thinking more along the lines of this stuff:

 

[JccEldreth]

I am thinking it is a part of a flintlock rifle. The plate that attaches to the stock with the attached hammer. Maybe...

 

[btjbtj]

I am thinking it is a part of a flintlock rifle. The plate that attaches to the stock with the attached hammer. Maybe...

Wouldn't that be something? Far from wampum, lol. Thanks! Could be. -L&J

 

[Jeff H]

Btbtj, I believe your "wabbit" is a broken escutcheon key hole plate from a door or maybe a trunk.

 

[btjbtj]

Btbtj, I believe your "wabbit" is a broken escutcheon key hole plate from a door or maybe a trunk.

Interesting. I just wonder about all those wacky etchings on it! Bizarre. ~L&J

 

[Jeff H]

I have a few with similar etchings.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

I am thinking it is a part of a flintlock rifle. The plate that attaches to the stock with the attached hammer. Maybe...

I agree - it looks like it's from a piece of gun hardware.

 

[P.ALLEN]

Not Wampum, that's for sure, but more likely a trade artifact.

 

[btjbtj]

I agree - it looks like it's from a piece of gun hardware.

Could be Bill. All we seem to agree upon is that it's old, lol! Thanks for looking. -L&J

 

[btjbtj]

Not Wampum, that's for sure, but more likely a trade artifact.

Forgive me if I sound naive, but what is a "trade artifact"? Do you mean from a certain work trade, or trade as in swap? Thanks, L&J

 

[btjbtj]

I agree - it looks like it's from a piece of gun hardware.

Bill, BTW--really excited about your forthcoming book. Please keep us informed, and if you are keeping a list of interested parties, please add us. We have a Mass 1683 four+ acre property, and most of the relics we find our from the Colonial era.

 

[CRUSADER]

It's actually a fairly common piece of 18th C furniture hardware. Would have been much bigger, mostly on chest on drawers with a keyhole & drawer pull attachment.

 

[CRUSADER]

Can't get an exact match but similar to items like this;
Furniture Escutcheon - UK Finds Database -
Keyhole Escutcheon - UK Finds Database -
Keyhole Escutcheon - UK Finds Database -

A lot of the mid 18th C where decorated in that Queen Anne Style, specially with that ring design.

 

[btjbtj]

Can get an exact match but similar to items like this;
Furniture Escutcheon - UK Finds Database -
Keyhole Escutcheon - UK Finds Database -
Keyhole Escutcheon - UK Finds Database -

A lot of the mid 18th C where decorated in that Queen Anne Style, specially with that ring design.

Thanks for the awesome links, Cru! Jeff and you nailed it. Mystery solved! Love this site. -L&J