(6) This is a sheet brass tinder box, made in the Netherlands, probably in the mid/late eighteenth century. It has the usual Dutch repousse work and light engraving. It would have contained a flint, steel, tinder, and sulphur splints: and probably a brass 'douter'.
three and a half out of four, Mike. I think 9. is probably Russian and the tinder tube is integral to a tinderbox, which was catalogued as a cigarette case.
Number 5 intrigues me. Is it a mould for making wax tapers for use in a waxjack? If so it is probably English/American, and dates to the first half of the 19th century.
I had thought it to be a wax pourer, probably for use with a 6x3 candle mould similar to (but larger than) item 3. but I am less informed than you on the alternative light sources of the time.
I suppose for completeness I should add that 4 & 8 are modernly spelled chuk muks {c.f. nun chuks where the element chuk means 'strike' and the pluralising 's' on chuk and muk is an English language addition to the Thibetan words chuk & muk (of course this is only a near transliteration of an oriental script which has little exact correspondence to our alphabet and its pronunciation). 1. is a Thibetan singing bowl which is cushioned on its textile ring and the striker is inserted and stirred around the inner rim to produce a sonorous ringing tone as an aid to prayer and meditation. 10. is a wax-sealing compendium containing a screw-capped brass spirit lamp and ladle for melting the wax and an engraved stamp to impress the molten wax. I assume a couple of sticks of red sealing wax would have been kept beside the ladle handle. 13. is a brass and coromandel-wood inkwell. 14. is a pocket ink-pad and rubber stamp whose original circular seal appears to have been modified or replaced. 15. is a 7,500 year old toy cart.
(6) This is a sheet brass tinder box, made in the Netherlands, probably in the mid/late eighteenth century. It has the usual Dutch repousse work and light engraving. It would have contained a flint, steel, tinder, and sulphur splints: and probably a brass 'douter'.
ReplyDeleteYou'ze de MAN bro (I believe that is idiomatic 'jive-talk' for Yes you have given an awesomely complete response.)
Delete(3) is a mould for making twelve wax or tallow candles. It is probably English or early American - dates from the 18th/19th century.
ReplyDeleteNumbers 4 and 8 are 'chakmaks' or tinder purses, from Thibet. 18th/19th century.
(7) Is a fire steel, fancifully made as a swan, probably early 19th century, and probably North West Europe.
Yes, ditto.
DeleteNos. 2, 9, 11, and 12 are tinder tubes, made in India, probably in the 19th century.
ReplyDeletethree and a half out of four, Mike. I think 9. is probably Russian and the tinder tube is integral to a tinderbox, which was catalogued as a cigarette case.
DeleteNumber 5 intrigues me. Is it a mould for making wax tapers for use in a waxjack? If so it is probably English/American, and dates to the first half of the 19th century.
ReplyDeleteI had thought it to be a wax pourer, probably for use with a 6x3 candle mould similar to (but larger than) item 3. but I am less informed than you on the alternative light sources of the time.
DeleteI suppose for completeness I should add that 4 & 8 are modernly spelled chuk muks {c.f. nun chuks where the element chuk means 'strike' and the pluralising 's' on chuk and muk is an English language addition to the Thibetan words chuk & muk (of course this is only a near transliteration of an oriental script which has little exact correspondence to our alphabet and its pronunciation).
ReplyDelete1. is a Thibetan singing bowl which is cushioned on its textile ring and the striker is inserted and stirred around the inner rim to produce a sonorous ringing tone as an aid to prayer and meditation.
10. is a wax-sealing compendium containing a screw-capped brass spirit lamp and ladle for melting the wax and an engraved stamp to impress the molten wax. I assume a couple of sticks of red sealing wax would have been kept beside the ladle handle.
13. is a brass and coromandel-wood inkwell.
14. is a pocket ink-pad and rubber stamp whose original circular seal appears to have been modified or replaced.
15. is a 7,500 year old toy cart.