Thought It Was the Top to a Salt Shaker But Its Not

[Erik in NJ]

Thought It Was the Top to a Salt Shaker But It's Not

It was found on a property that has a house that goes back to 1800 and contained a small factory that manufactured brooms for the Civil War effort--also sold sundries before or after. It's very thin, came up just above the foil range. It's an 1-1/4" in diameter. The holes are too big for a salt shaker top. The stud on the side has a tiny hole through it--for a chain? The rim on the opposite side has three holes about the same size as the holes in the top ring. Notice the center engraving of two concentric rings that looks like it was done by hand and done in error. It's not cast, but stamped metal, very fragile piece. I'm sure someone can ID this piece.

 

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[bigfoot1]

potpourri jar lid?..

 

[bigfoot1]

or perhaps pocket compass case...

 

[Erik in NJ]

Hi BigFoot1,

Thanks for the pics! I thought the 3 holes on the edge might be for a hinge or sorts, but the metal is too thin. Maybe a cap that sat over 3 studs/nipples there to keep it in place? They went to a lot of trouble to put that small hole in the one stud that is there. The diameter is so small that I don't think it's a potpourri lid and way too fragile for a compass lid....though I could be wrong. I'm thinking a top to something that poured some sort of powder perhaps (??).

 

[Breezie]

Since it is 1 1/4 inches in diameter with the larger holes, it looks like a ladies sachet or powder lid. Many of sachet bottles were small enough to fit into a purse and/or into a clothing drawer. Remember during the Victorian times, people didn't take a 'tub' bath but a few times a year, sometimes only once a year. Sachet, powder, perfume and the likes was used to help people and their clothes smell better.

If you look closely, you'll see what appears to be 'petals' points around the outer holes. The entire lid looks like a flower. Since some sachets were homemade from dried flowers and spices, the petal decor is appropriate. BigFoot was on the right track.

Breezie

 

[Erik in NJ]

Since it is 1 1/4 inches in diameter with the larger holes, it looks like a ladies sachet or powder lid. Many of sachet bottles were small enough to fit into a purse and/or into a clothing drawer. Remember during the Victorian times, people didn't take a 'tub' bath but a few times a year, sometimes only once a year. Sachet, powder, perfume and the likes was used to help people and their clothes smell better.

If you look closely, you'll see what appears to be 'petals' points around the outer holes. The entire lid looks like a flower. Since some sachets were homemade from dried flowers and spices, the petal decor is appropriate. BigFoot was on the right track.

Breezie

Hi, Yes, there are 12 petals around the lid in the shape of a flower. They went through some trouble to add the small stud on the side which has a tiny hole drilled through it. Any idea what this might have been used for? I'll green check it after we have a couple more folks weigh in just to make sure that it's not musket related (could it have been used to pour gunpowder?)--I have a trigger guard that I found in England with a flower engraved on it too. Most of the finds at this site have been early 19th century up to about 1850 or so so far.

Appreciate your thoughts on this!!

 

[Breezie]

Hi, Yes, there are 12 petals around the lid in the shape of a flower. They went through some trouble to add the small stud on the side which has a tiny hole drilled through it. Any idea what this might have been used for? I'll green check it after we have a couple more folks weigh in just to make sure that it's not musket related (could it have been used to pour gunpowder?)--I have a trigger guard that I found in England with a flower engraved on it too. Most of the finds at this site have been early 19th century up to about 1850 or so so far.

Appreciate your thoughts on this!!

The stud on the side is what kept the lid from falling off of the sachet jar.

To my knowledge, gun powder was poured and not sprinkled, but I never say never! LOL Breezie