Any ideas on this???

[CedarCreek1]

This belongs to a family member who acquired it from an estate of a deceased relative. Definitely looks old! Solid and hand carved and all from one piece of wood. Can't figure the intent of the object... is it part of something that was bigger? Like a staff? Object is about 16-18 inches long. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks

 

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[ANTIQUARIAN]

Welcome to Tnet from Toronto CedarCreek!

Any idea what type of wood it's carved from?
The carving definitely looks to be old, based on the design I'm thinking late 18thc.
It looks to be more likely to European as opposed to an American-made piece though.

The 'Heart Symbolism' has an interesting history...

"In the 6th-5th century BC, the heart shape was used to represent the heart-shaped fruit of the plant Silphium, a plant possibly used as a contraceptive. Many species in the parsley family have estrogenic properties, and some, such as wild carrot, were used to induce abortion. One suggested origin for the symbol is that it comes from the ancient African city-state of Cyrene, whose merchants traded in the rare, and now extinct, plant silphium. A silphium seedpod looks like a valentine's heart, so the shape became associated with sex, and then with love."

 

[creskol]

My father use to blister my butt with one of those when I was a kid!

 

[CedarCreek1]

Very interesting!!! Not exactly sure what type of wood it is... it's definitely a hard wood species! Very dense!

 

[FloodcityTom]

Just a guess but I would speculate the top of a flag staff, the botom molded to fit inside a hollow pole.

 

[Georgivs]

Welcome from a fellow Georgian! I want to say it has something to do with sewing/knitting? I feel like I've seen one before.

 

[mojjax]

some sort of south Pacific weapon - very valuable

 

[DCMatt]

Could be an oven peel or bread paddle. Hand carved for grandma's special pastries?



This is listed as a Welsh oatcake peel. 19th C.

 

[Joecoins]

Looks like an Acorn to me. On First sight, is it? The top of a fraternal staff...?

 

[Joecoins]

Rebekahs, IOOF, like Acorns..

 

[Joecoins]

Bread paddle would be something odd to bring home from an estate. When it was received was it. Taken because it looked cool. Or was there a significance to the peice..?

 

[CedarCreek1]

Just taken because of the oddity... no one had any ideas what it was or why it was there or when it was received. I don't think it's a bread paddle because the heart/ acorn shape is actually somewhat rounded... be hard to scoop up a loaf with it.

 

[Joecoins]

Was it found on display. Or in a cupboard..

 

[Joecoins]

Id like to see the rounded shape from the side

 

[CedarCreek1]

Here’s some closer pics

 

[Joecoins]

Id call that treasure

 

[Joecoins]

A symbol of strength and potential, it was also a Nordic and Celtic symbol of fertility, and immortality. The god Thor's Life Tree was oak. Druids believed the consumption of acorns would help see the future, and the word Druid can be translated as "Oak Knowledge". Some Oak Trees can live to be 1000 years old.Sep 2, 2017 " quoted from some website my giddy aunt. Forgive the informality

 

[Joecoins]

I bet it is made of Oak.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

The wood looks like white oak.IMO

 

[Joecoins]

Some1 could explain this symbolism to us probably. Or are they sworn to secrecy. People behind curtains everywhere.