Monday 5 October 2015

Rough and smooth, refined and rustic ~

1.

2. 

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

5 comments:

  1. (1) Fully adjustable cowshed (or stable) candlestick. Blacksmith made, 19th century. Probably used when cows are calving.

    (2) Very complex table clock, with various other indicators and dials. Probably Germanic, made circa 16th/early 17th century.

    (3) Veterinary instrument for internal use. 19th century.

    (4) Don't know but some sort of carpenter's measure.

    (5)Rushlight holder. North European. 18th/early 19th century.

    (6)Iron stirrup. Much used and worn, with remains of gold koftgari work on the iron. Probably 16th/17th century, Indo/Persian (???)

    (7) Grater, possibly for nutmeg or other spices, but could be a snuff rappee. Dated 1739, may date from 1739.

    (8)Small spinning wheel, probably for a lady's use, and possibly for spinning silks.
    Oh yes, and probably French, made from walnut, ivory and tortoiseshell, mid eighteenth century.

    (9)Coquilla nut (stated to be the hardest vegetable substance) snuff box. Probably French, late 18th/early 19th century.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Excellent observation, Mike ~ pretty accurate throughout ~ I'll supply a few more details shortly.

    ReplyDelete
  3. No 4 is a Smithy's Swage block.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well done Rog, I think this one was spotted in a Tyneside ship-yard.

      Delete
  4. 3 is a tonsil guillotine as used in tonsillectomies.
    6 claims to be a Viking stirrup but I think I prefer Mike's Persian attribution.
    7 a boxwood snuff rasp, rapée or grater.
    9 French, Louis XV (1715-1774) as per Mike.

    ReplyDelete