Mystery solved? Thoughts...

[Digger_O'Dell]

Hi all,
Found this piece by the old cellar hole I was working. No idea what it was, and nobody chimed in with any ideas either.

57458

Found a Hames bell at the site recently not far from this piece. Got to thinking, maybe part of a Hames bell harness? Here's a mock-up:

57459

Thoughts anyone? Seems to be a perfect fit, and very period to mid to late 1800s.

[Ill Digger]

:confused: Hmm? Boy you got me. :dontknow:
It looks like it belongs there!

[lee]

is it one of those things that rang in the kitchen in old houses to call the servants ?

[Digger_O'Dell]

I was thinking half of a fancy hame bell. Something like the photo, but the dragon instead of tassels?57460

[rsarge1]

+I was thinking weather vane.

[Ill Digger]

I was thinking coat hook? Heres a pic I found online of a " vintage oriental swivel hanger"

http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx310/IllDigger/s-l300_zpsg1mvgzb6.jpg (http://s766.photobucket.com/user/IllDigger/media/s-l300_zpsg1mvgzb6.jpg.html)

[Ill Digger]

It looks like yours mounts different. But the design looks similar.

[del]

very interesting theory and certainly not out of the question , wish I could help more on the subject .


I was thinking coat hook? Heres a pic I found online of a " vintage oriental swivel hanger"

http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx310/IllDigger/Mobile%20Uploads/s-l300_zpskxpxqzlo.jpg (http://s766.photobucket.com/user/IllDigger/media/Mobile%20Uploads/s-l300_zpskxpxqzlo.jpg.html)

Tim the picture didn't show ?

[Ill Digger]

very interesting theory and certainly not out of the question , wish I could help more on the subject .



Tim the picture didn't show ?
Tried something different. I guess it doesn't work. :lol:
I fixed it. Here it is again.
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx310/IllDigger/s-l300_zpsg1mvgzb6.jpg (http://s766.photobucket.com/user/IllDigger/media/s-l300_zpsg1mvgzb6.jpg.html)

[Digger_O'Dell]

Ah yes, the coat hook. Researched that lead for about a week with every photo, historical hardware ads and catalogs, etc. Not even close. Even tried light fixtures and oil lamp holders without luck. So far, bell bracket is the best guess.

[DrumnDetect]

Such a cool piece, I've been searching it as well for a few days, and two things I noticed were the hole that is the mouth is a loop, looks like something may have hung from that, and also the nub on the top at the back, that seems like it would have a purpose.
Just some things that seemed interesting. GL

[Digger_O'Dell]

Such a cool piece, I've been searching it as well for a few days, and two things I noticed were the hole that is the mouth is a loop, looks like something may have hung from that, and also the nub on the top at the back, that seems like it would have a purpose.
Just some things that seemed interesting. GL

I've noticed those points and looked into it. First I figured those nubs as some kind of minor support, or maybe more for alignment? Secondly, the closed mouth I had thought may be for hanging as I've seen similar uses as a hanger for an out light. But the problem is that it doesn't extend out far enough to clear the front of the piece if used that way so doesn't make sense.

[bamaart]

I was thinking that it looks a lot like the handles that I have on some incense burners, many of the really old ones have dragon handles of different styles.

[bamaart]

59120591015910259103

[del]

I've come across a very likely answer to your large ornate piece , try googling vintage stove finial