Are these blank wax seals? Just little statues?

[paulb104]

We had small box filled with what we thought were just opium weights. Thinking that's all it was, we ignored it for a few years. Today we decided to did through it, and there was certainly a lot more in it than opium weights, though there were more than a few of those in there.

There were five short skinny little statues, no more than five inches high, and I cannot help but wonder if they are supposed to be some sort of device for sealing wax on stationary. The bottoms of all of them are smooth, so they all could simply be little statues, but to look at all of them together...

Thoughts?

Thanks as always

 

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[flyadive]

Chess game pieces

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Pipe tampers?

 

[BagLady]

They are not wax stamps, that much I'm sure of. We had wax stamps in the late 60's early 70's...and they were inverted on the bottom to show a design.
I really like your little statues, or whatever they are. Chess pieces? Could be. I've seen some amazing chess sets. If they are, they would maybe be salesmen samples from different sets?

 

[paulb104]

Chess game pieces

I don't think they're game pieces. They're not balanced well enough to be constantly moved on a game board, and the little girl is just plain wobbly.

Pipe tampers?

Some have rectangular or square bases.

They are not wax stamps, that much I'm sure of. We had wax stamps in the late 60's early 70's...and they were inverted on the bottom to show a design.

I'm not convinced they're not wax seals. The main purpose of the seal is to push the wax down to ensure that it sticks to both pieces of the envelope/paper. The inverted symbol/seal might not have come until later. A smooth seal would still do the job but just not look as pretty.

The brass one in the middle, the one that flares out towards the top is hand engraved on both sides. I cannot make out what it says, but it was a personal piece to someone. I wouldn't think that a game piece wouldn't be so inscribed.

 

[Plug N Play]

Is it foundry marks ?
They had catalogs including a huge variety of statuettes ... Late 1800 's , on.

 

[paulb104]

Is it foundry marks ?
They had catalogs including a huge variety of statuettes ... Late 1800 's , on.

Well look at you showing off there!

I had no idea they were foundry marks, but in my own defense, I hadn't really tried to read them yet either...

I just took these two pictures. I did that trick with the loupe up to my phone.

 

[DCMatt]

I've looked at 5 or 6 late Victorian or Edwardian era 'bronze desk sets' with one of these items included. All are described as seals or stamps not engraved. But I suspect they had a different purpose as those whacky Victorians seemed to have specialized tools for any and every task.


I have a theory but haven't found any proof... yet.

 

[DCMatt]

 

[paulb104]

I've looked at 5 or 6 late Victorian or Edwardian era 'bronze desk sets' with one of these items included. All are described as seals or stamps not engraved. But I suspect they had a different purpose as those whacky Victorians seemed to have specialized tools for any and every task.


I have a theory but haven't found any proof... yet.

That tall skinny object on the right seems similar to the one of mine with the foundry name. Mine has a lions head at the top, so I had been wondering if it were German in nature.

 

[boogeyman]

Wax stamps. The body parts were cast, then the plate was engraved with the monogram etc & soldered on to complete it. There was a kid in California that was doing these along with tin soldiers and little tin cars. All I can remember is his name was Mark & he sold at swap meets & the hobby city in Garbage Grove.