A challenge ... what would this be?

fernando · 5th August 2009, 11:24 PM

Thank you all for your sugestions, Gentlemen.
This exercize of trying to find out what an unkown thing is, can be a fascinating theme, specially because of the variety of sugestions put up.
So far we have a lucet, a slingshot (

), a plumbers tool, a hand cross, and a war club (

).
Although the lucet seems to be the closest sugestion, i don't think it is one; but i am not based in any evidence to so think.
I could swear it is not from Yorkshire

; i am more certain of that than of the eventualy that it might be a weapon

.

Fernando.

tribalarms · 6th August 2009, 01:55 AM

Could it be a distaff?

fernando · 6th August 2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tribalarms

Could it be a distaff?

Also an hypothesis not to discard.
But with those conical prongs, wouldn't the yarn slip away?
Fernando

Rick · 6th August 2009, 03:10 PM

My Wife who spins, knits, and is a high end Seamstress says it is too small to be a distaff .

On my computer screen 'Nando's full shot of this device renders larger than it actually is .

fearn · 6th August 2009, 04:53 PM

The more I look at this, the more I become interested in the details.

For instance, the area between the two uprights appears to be carved down to an edge, and the supports for the uprights have those grooves which appear to be lined up.

There are a couple of possibilities. Either it's a tool, in which case the details are functionally significant, or it's some sort of symbolic item. In the later case, it's pretty clearly Christian, but I keep seeing some sort of "devil's horn" gesture in the uprights, combined with the three crosses, that makes me skeptical.

I don't have an answer, but despite what Rick's wife says, I keep coming back to something associated with thread or yarn-making. Something associated with a spinning wheel? Given the wood construction and lack of wear, if it was a tool, it pretty definitely had to be used for manipulating soft materials like thread, yarn, cord, or cloth.

Best,

F

Emanuel · 6th August 2009, 05:26 PM

At 5" tall, there aren't many things it can be. Small, must be portable. Decorated, personalized to the owner's taste. Something that would be used more or less commonly. The two horns look worn down, the surface is smooth from handling. Must have been held in the hand, subject to a fair bit of rubbing. I could see it used in weaving of some sort. A type of weaving comb?

Lucet seems most likely, not all have holes - see pic below.

Thoughts...

Emanuel

fearn · 6th August 2009, 06:08 PM

Hi Emanuel,

Interesting problem with the lucet theory: the edges of the piece. None of the lucet images I've seen have smooth, rounded edges, not bevels and grooves. As others noted, they also tend to have swelled ends and narrow arm bases, presumably to keep the yarns on the lucet.

While I don't have a better candidate, I'm not convinced yet.

Best,

F

David · 6th August 2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emanuel

At 5" tall, there aren't many things it can be. Small, must be portable. Decorated, personalized to the owner's taste. Something that would be used more or less commonly. The two horns look worn down, the surface is smooth from handling. Must have been held in the hand, subject to a fair bit of rubbing. I could see it used in weaving of some sort. A type of weaving comb?

Lucet seems most likely, not all have holes - see pic below.

Thoughts...

Emanuel

As i pointed out before, this would not make a very effective lucet as the forks are rounded and slope inwards. The cord would slip off while working. Look at the design of all these other lucets. The folks bow outward to help keep the cord on.
We are spending an awful lot of time on an object which i have serious doubts is any kind of weapon.

David · 6th August 2009, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

So far we have a lucet, a slingshot (

), a plumbers tool, a hand cross, and a war club (

).

Don't forgets Jim's suggestion of a votive, which i have not discounted yet. In fact, for me right now it seems the most likely.

kronckew · 6th August 2009, 07:28 AM

the 'plumbers tool' was a reference to the other thread about a lead headed cane whose explanation varied from trench club to rabbit throwing stick and turned out to be a plumbing tool used to bang out dents in lead pipes.

in other words, keep your options open, it could be anything. probably something not mentioned that was in common use way back but is not now.

5 inches is a bit short for a war club i suspect.

fernando · 6th August 2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Don't forget Jim's suggestion of a votive, which i have not discounted yet. In fact, for me right now it seems the most likely.

My uggly fault, David ... shame on me

.
Yes Jim, also a sugestion to consider; i must honestly confess, though, that i still don't see light in the end of the tunnel

.
Thank's a lot all the same.
Fernando

6th August 2009, 05:26 PM	#6
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	At 5" tall, there aren't many things it can be. Small, must be portable. Decorated, personalized to the owner's taste. Something that would be used more or less commonly. The two horns look worn down, the surface is smooth from handling. Must have been held in the hand, subject to a fair bit of rubbing. I could see it used in weaving of some sort. A type of weaving comb? Lucet seems most likely, not all have holes - see pic below. Thoughts... Emanuel Attached Images

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5th August 2009, 11:24 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you all for your sugestions, Gentlemen. This exercize of trying to find out what an unkown thing is, can be a fascinating theme, specially because of the variety of sugestions put up. So far we have a lucet, a slingshot ( ), a plumbers tool, a hand cross, and a war club ( ). Although the lucet seems to be the closest sugestion, i don't think it is one; but i am not based in any evidence to so think. I could swear it is not from Yorkshire ; i am more certain of that than of the eventualy that it might be a weapon . Fernando.

6th August 2009, 01:55 AM	#2
tribalarms Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 26	Could it be a distaff?

6th August 2009, 03:10 PM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	My Wife who spins, knits, and is a high end Seamstress says it is too small to be a distaff . On my computer screen 'Nando's full shot of this device renders larger than it actually is .

6th August 2009, 04:53 PM	#5
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	The more I look at this, the more I become interested in the details. For instance, the area between the two uprights appears to be carved down to an edge, and the supports for the uprights have those grooves which appear to be lined up. There are a couple of possibilities. Either it's a tool, in which case the details are functionally significant, or it's some sort of symbolic item. In the later case, it's pretty clearly Christian, but I keep seeing some sort of "devil's horn" gesture in the uprights, combined with the three crosses, that makes me skeptical. I don't have an answer, but despite what Rick's wife says, I keep coming back to something associated with thread or yarn-making. Something associated with a spinning wheel? Given the wood construction and lack of wear, if it was a tool, it pretty definitely had to be used for manipulating soft materials like thread, yarn, cord, or cloth. Best, F

6th August 2009, 06:08 PM	#7
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Emanuel, Interesting problem with the lucet theory: the edges of the piece. None of the lucet images I've seen have smooth, rounded edges, not bevels and grooves. As others noted, they also tend to have swelled ends and narrow arm bases, presumably to keep the yarns on the lucet. While I don't have a better candidate, I'm not convinced yet. Best, F

6th August 2009, 07:28 AM	#10
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	the 'plumbers tool' was a reference to the other thread about a lead headed cane whose explanation varied from trench club to rabbit throwing stick and turned out to be a plumbing tool used to bang out dents in lead pipes. in other words, keep your options open, it could be anything. probably something not mentioned that was in common use way back but is not now. 5 inches is a bit short for a war club i suspect.