Metal Object With Face

[joe_dirt]

I dug this today at a 19th century homestead site. It might be difficult to see in photos, it's fairly difficult to see in person too, but one side has a face on it. It's a portrait facing to the right. The most visible parts are the neck, mouth, nose and forehead area. I have no idea who it is, or what the object is. There doesn't seem to be any broken off edges, so this seems to be the actual shape of the item. Any ideas?

 

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[Erving]

Not a heel plate. A heel plate would have holes for mounting.

I think you have a "cliche". It is a printing plate used in mid to late 19th C stereotype printing. And YES, that is where we get our words "Cliche" & "Stereotype". They were originally used in the printing business.

I see a man (left) facing a woman (right). Cool find.

DCMatt

I see the same as you do Matt.

 

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[cw0909]

i see it too,i think DCMatt got it, i tried to enhance

 

[joe_dirt]

i see it too,i think DCMatt got it, i tried to enhance

View attachment 917325

I can definitely see the image in question, however, although I'd like to think it's something cool like that, I just can't convince myself there's actually something there and not just an optical illusion made up of discolorations, scratches, worn spots, etc.

Here's a closer, more brightly lit photo.

 

[BabyNeedsANewPairO'Shoes]

Now THAT looks very much like the profile of a head looking to the right! Much more clear to me.

Here's a pic I found of a printer holding a cliche. Thanks, matt for letting me learn something new today. The day was not a waste.

http://jessifish.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc_7623.jpg

 

[joe_dirt]

Now THAT looks very much like the profile of a head looking to the right! Much more clear to me.

http://jessifish.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dsc_7623.jpg

Yeah, that was the original image I thought I was seeing.

 

[DCMatt]

Ah. Now I see it. Still think it is a printing plate.

DCMatt