Silver looking stamped (A. Thompson & Co Edinburgh). Cant find info on it or maker

[inspectorgadget]

Silver looking stamped (A. Thompson & Co Edinburgh). Can't find info on it or maker

The title says it all, Except I put Thompson instead of Thomson in the title... oops. What is this ornate silver looking item? It has a piece of leather & the remnants of some other leather in the gap area. It's 6" X 3" x 1/2" & has a lot of tarnish in spots as you can see in the pictures. It also has some pretty deep gouges in a couple spots & the underneath metal is the same color. It is not marked with any type of silver marking or symbol that I can find on it. I can't identify the name online nor exactly what it is or what it went to. It's also not magnetic & the green on it comes off real easy if you scratch it but I have not cleaned this as I want to know what it is before I do anything to it. Thanks for reading & I know you guys are very good at this!

 

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[grasshopper]

not sure on the maker, but it looks like the top clasp part of an old purse...maybe?

 

[ModernMiner]

not sure on the maker, but it looks like the top clasp part of an old purse...maybe?

Looking again, I think I am probs wrong . Just realized it was 6 inches, and that seems too big.

You are correct with your ID. It's the top part of an old purse. I've dug a few too over the years.
Nice find,
MM

 

[NHBandit]

You are correct with your ID. It's the top part of an old purse. I've dug a few too over the years.
Nice find,
MM

Since it's one piece and not hinged I'm assuming it's only one half of the top of a purse ? I'd be back where you found it looking for the rest and also any contents that might have spilled out.

 

[inspectorgadget]

not sure on the maker, but it looks like the top clasp part of an old purse...maybe?

Looking again, I think I am probs wrong . Just realized it was 6 inches, and that seems too big.

This is quite possibly correct but I'm not 100% sure because of what else I found with it which seem to be native American stuff.

You are correct with your ID. It's the top part of an old purse. I've dug a few too over the years.
Nice find,
MM

Any idea of the material it's made of? Lots of those old purses were nickel silver but I don't think nickel silver tarnishes like this or at all? I also found some items with it that make me wonder about it being part of a purse tho native Americans might possibly have turned it into something else after it was a purse?

Since it's one piece and not hinged I'm assuming it's only one half of the top of a purse ? I'd be back where you found it looking for the rest and also any contents that might have spilled out.

This thing was found in an old metal box that's now sitting right next to me along with some other interesting items that seem to be old native American made items.

The box


Item #1


Item #2


Item #3


Several smaller items


Item #4 is the thing in my original pictures that I'm asking about in this post.

 

[inspectorgadget]

I sure do hope these things aren't scalps from early settlers that Indians fashioned in items the settlers were carrying with them or anything like that! The one piece is an animal pelt made to be worn that is obvious but the tassel like things hanging from it & the others items I'm not so sure what they are from or for.

 

[cactusrat]

I think that is exactly what they are, scalp locks. Indians used scalp locks as decorations.

However, not only Indians took scalps.

I am not sure if it is legal to own an authentic native American scalp lock. All I come up with is it is not. After all it is a human body part.

I would definably have someone/place to look into this deeper.

 

[jefg231]

very cool

 

[Mackaydon]

It looks like the top of a 'sporran'; a Scottish man's purse. You see them when men wear the kilt.
Don........
PS: Here's a somewhat similar one:

 

[surf]

I don't think our Native brothers shopped in Edinburgh. I'm pretty sure those are Sporrans.

 

[scuba1970]

Scottish scalp taker?

 

[cactusrat]

I think you guys are right about the Sporrans.

I was kind of creepy thinking about Indian scalps.

Now what are Sporrans made of, don’t tell me human hair.

 

[grasshopper]

It looks like the top of a 'sporran'; a Scottish man's purse. You see them when men wear the kilt.
Don........
PS: Here's a somewhat similar one:

Yeah, I think this makes more sense. Would explain why there's no hinge....

 

[inspectorgadget]

I think that is exactly what they are, scalp locks. Indians used scalp locks as decorations.

However, not only Indians took scalps.

I am not sure if it is legal to own an authentic native American scalp lock. All I come up with is it is not. After all it is a human body part.

I would definably have someone/place to look into this deeper.

I was thinking the same thing but luckily others here have shown they are probably not actually scalps thank goodness!

very cool

Very interesting as well & thanks!

It looks like the top of a 'sporran'; a Scottish man's purse. You see them when men wear the kilt.
Don........
PS: Here's a somewhat similar one:

I think you have it nailed down! Great job! I appreciate that info!

I don't think our Native brothers shopped in Edinburgh. I'm pretty sure those are Sporrans.

View attachment 906380

I believe you are correct & just for the record I know American Indians didn't shop in Edinburgh but they could have robbed the early settlers who they had killed & scalped is more along the line of what I was thinking. I believe this mystery is solved for the most part.

I think you guys are right about the Sporrans.

I was kind of creepy thinking about Indian scalps.

Now what are Sporrans made of, don’t tell me human hair.

You were creeped out, I held the things before I thought about what they could have been then I was yikes what is that! And I also wonder what kind of hair is in them as the tassel like hanging things don't feel like horse hair at all but I guess goat is a possibility, I'm not a hair expert but it's thin hair I can say that much for sure.

Yeah, I think this makes more sense. Would explain why there's no hinge....

Have to agree with ya! I think this one has been solved. Strange tho that I can't find any INFO on that name on the piece I started this thread for.

 

[Mackaydon]

The Scottish Gaelic word for purse is sporran; the tradition began nearly 400 years ago (1618).
Cactusrat, the long hairs, like the one in "surf's" post is usually horse hair.
Don..........

 

[inspectorgadget]

With the excellent help of you guys I located these & the first picture is an almost identical piece as the one in my original post. They say it is silver & I believe the one I opened this thread with is also indeed silver (it weighs a little over 4 oz's). These actually do have value & pretty darn good value at that! Some are less (in the $100 range) but this gives ya an idea of what they can be worth
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VICTORIAN-SILVER-SPORRAN-CANTLE-WITH-LEATHER-BACKING-EDINBURGH-1893-/370918047167?pt=UK_Antiques_Silverware_RL&hash=item565c703dbf&nma=true&si=l7Dkz4kCoqAUaXnYiULYocV%252BVAA%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557


Again thanks to all for chiming in on this, you guys rock!