What Is It? - #19

[SifuPhil]

Okay, folks, for the last day of the month I've found a real tough one for you to try.



This unique piece is made of brass. It is 8" long, 1" wide and 0.5" thick. It is hollow and has a lid. It has a squarish box-shaped attachment on one end. The 'box' does not open, nor is there access to the box from inside the handle. There are emblems in one side of the 'box' that appear to be a small fish (?) and 2 of what may possibly be sheaves of wheat.

There is also some type of hallmark or maker's mark on the inner surface of the handle but it's not clear.





If you look closely, you may see that although I said the "box" does not open it appears that the "sheaves of wheat" may rotate and be held in place by a clip.

This item recently went at auction for $175.



What Is It?

 

[That Guy]

Too hard for my simple mind. Gonna have to pass and await the amazement when the secret is revealed...

 

[SifuPhil]

Too hard for my simple mind. Gonna have to pass and await the amazement when the secret is revealed...

Aw, boo! I was expecting great things of you, Guy ...

C'mon, give it a shot - maybe say it's a Play-Doh dispenser or something ...

 

[That Guy]

Well . . . I wanted to say opium pipe... But, if the "box" doesn't open, that's out. What the heck is the purpose of the boxy thing that is entirely closed? Damn . . you've sucked me in... again...

 

[SifuPhil]

Well . . . I wanted to say opium pipe... But, if the "box" doesn't open, that's out. What the heck is the purpose of the boxy thing that is entirely closed? Damn . . you've sucked me in... again...

BWA-hahahahahahahahahaha!

Actually, yeah, it DOES look sort of like an opium pipe, doesn't it?

 

[R. Zimm]

Gun Powder / Flint storage container? Brass to lessen the chance of an explosion from a spark.

 

[TICA]

An envelope seal? The old kind where you sealed the envelope with wax and then put the family stamp on it! Phil - is this your family seal????

 

[Anne]

I think TICA's close there, but......an antique matchbox????

 

[That Guy]

I just don't get the use of the closed box thingy...

 

[TICA]

A candle snuffer? (she is grasping at straws here).

 

[SifuPhil]

Gun Powder / Flint storage container? Brass to lessen the chance of an explosion from a spark.

No, but good reasoning.

An envelope seal? The old kind where you sealed the envelope with wax and then put the family stamp on it! Phil - is this your family seal????

You're getting warm, but you're not quite on fire yet ...

I think TICA's close there, but......an antique matchbox????

Nope, nothing to do with fire.

I just don't get the use of the closed box thingy...

That's what Mr. Pandora said ...

A candle snuffer? (she is grasping at straws here).

Nope - you were warmer before ...

 

[TICA]

A teeny tiny horn - musical instrument. A gazoo - not sure of the spelling and have never seen one that wasn't plastic but maybe??

 

[That Guy]

Some kinda tool for lighting fires?

 

[SifuPhil]

A teeny tiny horn - musical instrument. A gazoo - not sure of the spelling and have never seen one that wasn't plastic but maybe??

No, but wow, that's a creative one!

Some kinda tool for lighting fires?

Nope, not a fire-starter - sorry.



[HINT] It is distantly related to ... birds.

 

[TICA]

A tool used for weaving baskets? Or weaving cane seats for chairs? Or weaving something......?

 

[Anne]

A bird call!! That doesn't explain the markings, but...........

 

[That Guy]

An envelope sealer was declared a "warm" guess. But not much of a clue.

How about a candle snuffer...

 

[SifuPhil]

A tool used for weaving baskets? Or weaving cane seats for chairs? Or weaving something......?

No, nothing to do with weaving, [HINT] unless you're weaving a story ...

A bird call!! That doesn't explain the markings, but...........

Nope, not used for calling the birdies ...

An envelope sealer was declared a "warm" guess. But not much of a clue.

How about a candle snuffer...

Alas, no, not an implement for snuffing out the brief lives of a flame.

 

[That Guy]

So far . . . something to do with an envelope sealer was "warm" and weaving a story is a hint . . .

Somehow connected to pen and ink???

 

[TICA]

Good guess that Guy, that was what my next guess would have been too.

 

[SifuPhil]

DING! DING! DING!

We have a winna'!!!

That Guy came close enough with his answer "Somehow connected to pen and ink" to win the Grand Prize.

This item is a QALANDAN! An antique travel brass inkwell, late 19C. - early 20C, Middle Eastern. It's a scribe’s or calligrapher’s pen and inkwell case made of brass with a compartment to hold quills and an attached inkwell. Qalandans have been used in the middle east since the 15th century. The majority are brass pen/feather holders, with or without attached ink containers. The ink was often in powdered form. There are also Jewish inkwells, usually marked so, used by ‘Sofer Stam’ (Torah scriber). Usually, the smaller and lighter the inkwell, the higher its value.

Two other styles of Qalandans ...

 

[That Guy]

Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah! Oh, Yeah!

 

[R. Zimm]

Way to go TG! I was just reading through the thread and was going to guess a portable pencil and lead case.

 

[That Guy]

I'm sharin' my reward cookie with TICA and an honorable mention taste to Zimm. Better not be one o' them bug cookies, Phil!

 

[R. Zimm]

Maybe we can get Phil to share some of his "special" brownies???