Thought It Was Junk But Now I Don't Think So..WOW, What A Turn Of Events

[fsa46]

I found this while water detecting at the beach yesterday and thought it was junk and didn't bother posting it on any of the sites.

After looking it over I could tell something was inside so I started digging the muck out and found the pearl, pink stone, and whatever the tan stone is inside.

The stones don't appear to be real but I am dying to know what this is and what the significance of the items that were inside.

I didn't think it was silver at first but it definitely tested positive for silver.

I thought the insignia might be from a fraternity but a member on another site said it isn't Greek and is middle eastern.

Any help on this will really be appreciated. Thanks.

[Skamaniac]

Wow, that is a great find even if it's not valuable.

[Cheap Thrills]

Uncle Achmed's kidney stones ?

[milco]

That is a very cool item you found! I hope you are able to get an ID on it!

[fsa46]

Turns out to be a prayer box but still trying to zero in on the culture.

[del]

Frank I do know some of our Native Americans use something similar , a prayer pouch or medicine bag . its a type of leather pouch worn around their necks with certain items that have power in their beliefs . colored stones , shells even herbs or flowers and bones. I have never seen one made of silver though but i wonder if the sunflower motif is somehow native American related??

[coinnut]

Yep, it's probably a prayer box. Great find and I hope you narrow it down even further.

[tanacat]

I always enjoy dissecting compacts and things like that | very neat that you found these items inside...

[Rob L]

Unusual find. Nice looking also. I'd bet that if you send it into Mark Parker at Western & Eastern Treasures he would Identify Where it came from.

[fsa46]

A special thank go out to Tana for sending me a PM suggesting that this item may be for cremation ashes and the items inside have some significance with the departed person.

My very first thought was that she was wrong and replied saying that I didn't think so. However, after thinking it over and realizing that I have looked at hundreds and hundreds of prayer boxes during my research not a single one was one piece. They all were either two pieces or opened with a hinged.

With this said, I decided to look into cremation jewelry and it didn't take me long to realize that Tana was correct.

Fortunately whatever remains were in the box are still on my work bench and I will be putting them back inside along with the other three items and returning them back where they were found.

Once again, Thanks Tana .

[aloldstuff]

Very honorable, returning them to where they belong. Kudos my friend.

[tanacat]

A special thank go out to Tana for sending me a PM suggesting that this item may be for cremation ashes and the items inside have some significance with the departed person.

You're welcome I was hesitant to say anything

My father was cremated and I've been looking online for containers for his ashes- had been looking at necklace styles and then it dawned on me what yours might be...

[lcoutback]

I echo aloldstuff's comment. Very respectable...