Sunday 4 October 2015

Life's little essentials ~

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6 comments:

  1. (1) Not sure about this one. A scientific instrument of some sort. Dates from around 1860 - 1880.

    (2) A seal for using on sealing wax. North European, circa 17th/early eighteenth century.

    (3) A new one on me. A very ingenious cycle, probably English, and circa 1860 to 1870.

    (4) This one puzzles me. It appears to be a ball mould, but there are a few pointers that suggest otherwise, so I'll guess it's a nut cracker. Bronze, English (?) circa 17th century, early 18th century.

    (5) Painted treen nut cracker. North European, early 19th century.

    (6)Fine quality betel nut cracker, Indian 18th/19th century.

    (7)Flintlock pistol/key. Used to be called gaollers' key/pistol. This one appears to be continental ? French, and 18th Century.

    (8)Key. Appears to be quite early. Possibly dark ages - but if so, in very good condition.

    (9)Double bullet mould, probably made to case up with a mid nineteenth century double barrelled pistol or an early percussion revolver. English, c.1850.

    (10)Brass Indo/Persian betel nut cutter, 19th century.

    (11)Percussion key/pistol. French(?) circa 1840. Ingenious, but not a serious weapon, in fact I half suspect that all of these key pistols were made more for collectors than for serous users. I have had four of these through my hands over the years - two matchlock, one flintlock, and one (probably the best quality - and the most suspicious) miquelet lock.

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  2. P.s. I sold all four to members of the trade, and all four buyers were suspicious of their bona fides, but all four were convinced they would sell on - which they did.

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  3. Excellent work Mike. Only No. 5 fooled you, but not entirely in that at needs it could be used as a nut-cracker. I'll add details later in case any-one else might wish hazard a guess.

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  4. (5) is not a nutcracker but (on a closer examination) a pincushion holder. The treen screw fitting is to fasten the pincushion to the top of the work table.

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    Replies
    1. You have the mechanics of the base and the origin of the whole, it claims to be Dutch C.16th. The top holds not a pin-cushion but a small angled mirror to assist with cosmetic applications probably ~ kohl, antimony, rouge, patches and such like.

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  5. 1. Newtonian ring demonstration device.
    3. Monocycle by Rousseau of Marseilles 1869 ~ the small wheel allows for a low seat, keeping the centre of gravity low. The large outer wheel provides a smoother ride over uneven surfaces.
    8. Is catalogued as a Viking period key.

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