🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Hooded man holding some playing cards or fan?

[invent4hir]

This small brass artifact was found near at a former home site dating to the 1840s that also yielded a 1930 dog license, needle valve, and part of a hot comb. It appears to be a man wearing a hood and moustache holding some playing cards or fan in 1 hand and pointing to it/them with the other. A bit of rust on the one end could be what is left of a stud that it was once screw to. There may be a “Shriners” fez hat on top of the head – as it doesn’t appear to be broken off.

Any ideas as to who/what this represents and how old it is?

 

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[GoldieLocks]

Male moustached Gypsy With Fan?

 

[invent4hir]

Male moustached Gypsy With Fan?

Couldn't have said it better.

 

[DCMatt]

I'm guessing it's the top of a stick pin. Turn of the 20th C give or take a decade. Victorians/Edwardians were way in to anything supernatural or occult. Maybe this guy is pointing to tarot cards.

 

[invent4hir]

I'm guessing it's the top of a stick pin. Turn of the 20th C give or take a decade. Victorians/Edwardians were way in to anything supernatural or occult. Maybe this guy is pointing to tarot cards.

DCMatt, thanks for the tip - will definitely pursue. Have a good Thanksgiving!

 

[Russoca]

Hard to tell, does it have a passage top/bottom? Could be a decorative bottle stopper/pourer.

Also....kinda looks like the ZigZag man! 😂

 

[bologna321]

Jesus with a turkey

 

[invent4hir]

Hard to tell, does it have a passage top/bottom? Could be a decorative bottle stopper/pourer.

Also....kinda looks like the ZigZag man! 😂

Thanks, there is no passage per se. Still the idea that it is part of a stopper is one I hadn't thought of.

 

[invent4hir]

Jesus with a turkey

At first glance I though "what the ". But the robe and fez-like hat got me thinking about an Orthodox priest.

 

[invent4hir]

Including 2 more pics. #4 is the bottom view that shows the iron/steel stud broken off inside the base of the artifact. A rusty crust has formed around the base. #5 is a top view showing the fez-like hat is solid.

 

[DawnNC]

This small brass artifact was found near at a former home site dating to the 1840s that also yielded a 1930 dog license, needle valve, and part of a hot comb. It appears to be a man wearing a hood and moustache holding some playing cards or fan in 1 hand and pointing to it/them with the other. A bit of rust on the one end could be what is left of a stud that it was once screw to. There may be a “Shriners” fez hat on top of the head – as it doesn’t appear to be broken off.

Any ideas as to who/what this represents and how old it is?

Could it be a piece off of an old mechanical bank?
Maybe that’s a stack of money he’s fanning out

 

[HuntinDog]

It looks like your picture of the base shows what have been a hole with the stud from another part snaped off in it.
My thoughts are it may have been a lamp topper.

 

[CreakyDigger]

It's interesting that the figure is pointing to what he is holding in his hand. I think it's cards...

 

[invent4hir]

It looks like your picture of the base shows what have been a hole with the stud from another part snaped off in it.
My thoughts are it may have been a lamp topper.

HuntinDog, thanks! I agree w/ the stud snapping off. WIll look into lamp topper. Regardless if I can confirm the ID, it will be one of the artifacts I include in the educational display case I'm making for the property and donating to the owner (local park district). That way people can learn about the history.

 

[invent4hir]

It's interesting that the figure is pointing to what he is holding in his hand. I think it's cards...

CreakyDigger, yes I think those are cards.

 

[boogeyman]

Male moustached Gypsy With Faresults

Male moustached Gypsy With Fan?

My ex wife!?!?

 

[GoldieLocks]

I'm guessing it's the top of a stick pin. Turn of the 20th C give or take a decade. Victorians/Edwardians were way in to anything supernatural or occult. Maybe this guy is pointing to tarot cards.

OK, so who's grandma was a Psychic?

 

[HuntinDog]

Could be a gambler and those are fanned out $$ bills

 

[CreakyDigger]

Could be a gambler and those are fanned out $$ bills

Yes, that was one of the suggestions. Personally, I doubt that banknotes would have had the same meaning or excitement then that Federal Reserve notes do today. Our modern notes have a universal appeal and agreed-upon value; I think that would have been less likely at the time this was made, whatever it is, when different banks issued their own notes..

 

[DawnNC]

magician? 🤷‍♀️