Thank you Ian,
I appreciate your confirming Rick's assessment that this may be a put together device; you know, he is getting old and we never know if he is sure of his senses
. (Crossing fingers ... hoping he comprehends my sense of humour
).
Well, the other day i met with my local fellow collector with intention to go to Braga city, to check on a cased pair of flintlock pistols that looked a bit suspicious. First thing the seller did was to show me this object in discussion and, as we both ignored what it was, he promptly offered it to me, saying that he was getting rid of the riddle, as he was transferring it to me.
Yes, it does look like ebony, "pau preto" (black wood) as we call it here.
.