Coffin handle needs Masonic deciphering

[Qball]

Very unusual coffin handle of bronze. Seems Masonic or Odd Fellows but somethings wrong. Pythagoras said "Offer not your right hand easily to everyone". This is the hand shake of the Gnostic. But check this out these are left hands not right hands. I cannot find another example anywhere but right hands represent strength and left hands weakness and judgement. did the foundry blow it or is there a reason for this symbolism?

 

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[A2coins]

Let us know if you figure it out pretty interesting piece

 

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[How Lucky]

If its a coffin handle as you say. Then the answer is in your statement "judgement day".

 

[trdking]

I vote finneal Not a coffin handle. Door Knocker is also plausible

 

[GeoW]

Never saw a Free Mason shake a coffin handle..

g

 

[releventchair]

Never saw a Free Mason shake a coffin handle..

g

I think the Masons were not Shakers.
Shakers were French Camisards and the Quakers...
(O.K. , bad joke.)

 

[civil_war22]

View attachment 1794593

So here is a more size accurate image. There is a hole on the end opposite the end with the ball that may have had another ball inserted. I first thought that this was a finial but it is the right size for a handle. this dates no earlier than 1855 and no later than 1900 so it is not boy scout. I work restoring dilapidated grave sites for our historic rural cemetery and use a detector sometimes to find lost bits and pieces to use in my restorations. this turned up while looking for metal railing bits but the bits I was looking for were not this style. When I get the research done on this thing it will probably go to the local museum.What ever it is the reversed symbol is a conundrum.

Don’t say detector, grave site, or cemetery in the same sentence. That’ll really get folks blood boiling on here. Unless you’re an Archy then we know they get to keep everything they want even if it was the the remains of the Lindbergh baby

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Just came across this and remembered the find.

 

[Diggin' History]

View attachment 1794593

So here is a more size accurate image. There is a hole on the end opposite the end with the ball that may have had another ball inserted.

Does the "Ball" pivot or move in any way and would you mind posting a picture of the end without the "Ball"?

Edit:

Closest picture I have found yet but still looking. At least doing research on this is keeping me off the streets! :smirk:

DH

 

[invent4hir]

Just came across this and remembered the find.

Click on the thumbnail below to zoom in on what Charlie P found...

 

[Retired Sarge]

Just came across this and remembered the find.

This is cool, I've always wondered what the significance and meaning of the emblems and icons found in cemeteries were. Now I know............Thanks for the post with the explanations.

 

[cw0909]

found this, are there any french buried there


author Eliza Duffey
The Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Etiquette: published 1877
Duffey reports that the right hand was the preferred hand to offer
(though she is careful to note that “the French give the left hand, as nearest the heart”).
https://archive.org/details/ladiesgentlemens00duffrich/page/34/mode/1up/search/left

Eliza Duffey,french left handshake mentioned here too
https://www.mimimatthews.com/2017/0...n-handshake-advice-on-opposite-sex-greetings/

forgot a link, talks about handles made incorrectly and bought on the cheap
and more history on the handles
https://scahome.org/publications/proceedings/Proceedings.22Glover.pdf