Silver Item Found in a Civil War Camp.....

[Goldiver]

I have been trying to ID this thing for over a year with no luck, so I am hoping you folks can help me out. It measures 3/4" x 2 ". It is sterling silver found in a Civil War Artillery Officers camp. Here it is...and I appreciate your help.

 

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[PBK]

The mark is that of Frank M. Whiting & Co. of North Attleboro, MA, c. 1896-1940.

 

[jddave79]

I'm gonna take a guess and say that it is some type of ladies vanity/toiletry piece....but thats just a guess. I'm still looking.....really bored today. -JD in WV

 

[re-tek]

i'll take a swag...

hangs on necklace and meant for ladies to stick small flowers into.

 

[PBK]

i'll take a swag...

hangs on necklace and meant for ladies to stick small flowers into.

Good guess... a posy holder or "tussy mussy." The embossed design seems appropriate as well. Most are sort of conical or trumpet shaped, but there are some flatter, "pocket" types, too.

Since it's looped, another possibility is that it's some sort of case or holder which was suspended from a chatelaine.

 

[Goldiver]

The mark is that of Frank M. Whiting & Co. of North Attleboro, MA, c. 1896-1940.

I was just wondering where you found the reference for the silver mark, I haven't been able to find it yet. Thanks for your input!

 

[PBK]

I was just wondering where you found the reference for the silver mark, I haven't been able to find it yet. Thanks for your input!

There are a number of silver mark websites, but in this case I used a book: American Silver Marks by Ralph & Terry Kovel.

Doing some additional checking, I also found the mark in the Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers by Dorothy T. Rainwater, who indicates that Whiting was in business as early as 1878, and that this particular mark was, "Not used after 1896."

 

[Goldiver]

Thanks for your input folks!

 

[cntrydncr1]

That is one beautiful piece!

 

[Montana Jim]

Cripes... I leared two things today!

One of them being what the heck a "tussy mussy" is. I've never heard the term!

Kewl find!

 

[Rob66]

Holy Moley.....nice silver.

 

[trikikiwi]

Nice find of silver art, Goldiver
Trust PBK to identify a tussy mussy!

Just googled them and as PBK says, usually conical.
Could it be a perfume pendant? then the flowers still fit
Cheers, Mike

 

[Peerless67]

http://www.925-1000.com/

 

[River Rat]

No clue to what it is, but it sure is pretty. I was thinking the flowers were dogwood, but the dogwood has only 4 petals. Hopefully this website can give you an idea what ladies wore as fashion jewelery in the old days.

RR

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...rs&start=60&gbv=2&ndsp=20&svnum=10&hl=en&sa=N

 

[Helo]

My Guess is a match holder,... 8)

 

[stoney56]

RR, could the flowers be hollyhock? I'm thinking it may be a coronet. This would be carried by someone single, young or someone getting married. Possibly damp moss would have been in the bottom to keep flowers fresh and would have been worn and hung from the waist. The lower portion is smooth and may have been designed to put the owners initials on it to customize.

 

[Old Dog]

The flowers on this one are Jasmine,
A perfect example of a "tussy mussy" in use was the movie "Back to the future 3"
Doc Brown had one with lavender in it. pinned to his coat.

What a beautiful piece you found.

OD