Weird Lid/Brass Thingy

[BuckleBoy]

Hello All,

If I've dug one weird thing, I wonder about it. If I dig more than one of the same mystery item then it really starts to gall me that I don't know what it is! I have now dug 4 of these weird little stamped brass decorative pieces, which were obviously riveted on to something larger (they're all bent/folded up, but what you see is 1 1/4 inch square below for size reference:



Well, my wife, DiggerGirl finally dug an example of the larger piece, complete with the decorative loop attached. Trouble is--we still have no clue what in the world it is! All dug in mid-1800s sites.



Any help is much appreciated!

Cheers,

Buck

 

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[ANTIQUARIAN]

I'm thinking it might be part of a hanging oil lamp frame.
Possibly part of the smoke deflector on the top.

Dave

 

[Tony in SC]

I was going to say globe holder for a lamp. I've had lamps with strips like that but not that fancy.

 

[villagenut]

It is called a skaters lamp....we're popular back in the mid to late 1800s and were called that because they were held in the hand of someone who was ice skating at night...it was a thing. Dietz made these and I too have found one a while back with the same stamped finger ring. The base or bottom is gone because it was iron and rusted away leaving only the brass body.

 

[villagenut]

I just went back and found my old post and funny thing is, I called it a brass thingy too lol

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/499710-squished-brass-thingy.html

 

[BuckleBoy]

Awesome! Thanks guys! This one is SOLVED

 

[Rookster]

Very interesting. Nice find.

 

[creskol]

Hey Buckleboy .. Here is a complete one of what I think yours may have looked like in its original state. ..or something real similar.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Thanks so much creskol! You're exactly right! I imagine the bottoms of these were tin which didn't survive.

VERY cool!!