Object from Oregon shipwreck

[mariner]

I wonder if anybody has come across something similar to this carved, wooden stand. It is about twelve inches high, and is hollowed out. The wall thickness is about one inch. The handle at the top is inserted into the top of the stand, and I could not determine what held it, whether it was threaded, just a push fit, or glued in some way.

It was found around Nehalem, on the Oregon coast, where the beeswax ship wrecked, probably about the end of the seventeenth century (1690-1710). I suspect that the carving is Philippines in style. The family that has it says it was given to them about four generations ago, by a local Indian family who had found it at Nehalem.

I suspect that it was used to cover up religious statues at night, but that is just a guess.

Mariner

 

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[jeff of pa]

WOW It looks Very cool.

 

[cuzcosquirrel]

Nice. Wanted to see it once you mentioned it. Perhaps it was used in the preparation and drinking of chocolate?

 

[mariner]

cuzcosquirrel,

The handle at the end prevents it from balancing, so you can't use it with the mouth upwards.

Mariner

 

[cuzcosquirrel]

It could be slotted into something easily. Passengers drank a lot of chocolate from what I have read. It could be almost anything, but with a thickness of 1 inch, you have to look away from the ornamental and more at utility. The only church statue I have seen from a Manila galleon was over 14 inches tall.

 

[mariner]

cs,

I don'tknow what it is, which is why I posted the pictures here. I am hoping that somebody will have seen something like it in the past.

Mariner

 

[niffler]

Mariner, what kind of wood is it made out of? Could provide clues to place of origin.

 

[mariner]

foiledagain,

I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that. Not a hardwood, I think, to judge by some marks and indents on it.

Mariner