A challenge ... what would this be?

[Rick]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[fearn]

Hi David,

Perhaps it's one of those infamous Curiosity Trap Sticks, that look like they're really important, and make us look at them far longer than we really should....

[David]

Originally Posted by fearn

Hi David,

Perhaps it's one of those infamous Curiosity Trap Sticks, that look like they're really important, and make us look at them far longer than we really should....

Some dead guy is having a good laugh on us right now from on high.

[Emanuel]

Originally Posted by David

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.

The forks could have been worn down through use

At 5" tall, the only offensive use this thing could have is poking eyes out. I agree this can't be a weapon.

[fernando]

Hi David,

Originally Posted by David

... We are spending an awful lot of time on an object which i have serious doubts is any kind of weapon.

I see that you were in fact the person who has more often posted in this thread.
I humbly beg you to pardon me .
Sure this is not a weapon.
I thought i'd post this curious object for a bit of relaxation, a sort of 'fait divers', hoping not to comit such a major crime .
The truth is that, forumites posted their sugestions, even assuming this is not a weapon in the first place.
Being this forum the place we permanently frequent to query and discuss the items of our basic hobby (weapons), it just comes handy to break the tabu and also post here some non weapon item that crosses in our way.
Surely many a member has his set of curiousities at home, besides the potential of general culture that resides in this comunity.
... one feels tempted to pop up with these riddles .

Fernando

[fearn]

Considering how often we talk about weapon-like objects (African money spears, for instance?), I'm not bothered by this. As Fernando noted, it is different. Also, this is August, and if we don't do something different, we'll get stale

F

[Rick]

August is duck and cover month here (where I live), Fearn .

[David]

Originally Posted by fernando

Hi David,
I see that you were in fact the person who has more often posted in this thread.

I know, that's what's really bugging me.

Originally Posted by fernando

I humbly beg you to pardon me .
Sure this is not a weapon.
I thought i'd post this curious object for a bit of relaxation, a sort of 'fait divers', hoping not to comit such a major crime .

Relaxation?! I've been going crazy trying to figure it out and find some answers here. Nothing relaxing about such a mystery!
But seriously Fernando, i was just commenting. Don't get so defensive. You have committed no major crime here. I must admit though that i am rather hoping it still turns out to be a weapon some how, though i strongly doubt it. Maybe you could go out and mug someone with it to see if it is effective.
Crime or not though i do hope this doesn't start a trend here of everyone dragging out their unidentified non-weapon curios for discussion. That could get old fast IMO.