What does this go to?? ID Flute Player

[N.J.THer]

I found this last year at an old schoolyard. Prior to the schoolyard the land was part of the backyards of old homes that are from the mid 1800s. Not sure of the age of this item.

I think it is made out of brass and it is definitely hand made. It measures 2 inches high and a little over 1 1/2 at the base. The base is rounded like it was the topper to something and there a point sticking down from the side of the base in the bottom. There may have been one on both sides but I can't tell since there is some cement type of material stuck on part of the bottom. Not sure if it was from when it was being used or if it is from being in the ground. There is a oval punched through the back of the base that is 1/2 inch wide 1/4 high. There is an etching design around the entire outside of the base.

On top of the base there is a flute player sitting with one leg tucked underneath him. He is wearing a long coat with tails. See the many pictures below for more details and let me know if you have any questions or need additional pictures. I've tried to figure this one out since October of 2006 with no luck.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Front

Front 2

Back

Front height

Bottom

Side 1

Side 2

Thanks for looking and let me know what you think.

NJ

 

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[Charlie P. (NY)]

Lid to a small incense burner.

 

[lonesomebob]

as good a guess as any.

 

[CRUSADER]

It might be Bronze??

 

[RUDY2003]

Its a part of a flute. One of the little finger pads that they press to change notes....

Keep safe...

 

[DCMatt]

Lid to a small incense burner.

Agree. Possibly a (crude) likeness of Krishna (Hindu) who is often depicted playing the flute and standing on one leg. Maybe he got tired of standing and is sitting on one leg for this one...

Dude, light it up!

DCMatt

 

[DigEmAll]

Teachers aid to help learn proper placement of the flute to the lips. It sits on top of the welded on lip plate. One blows throught the hole to make the flute whistle.

 

[dg39]

Top to an incense burner. For sure Dude!
DG

 

[QUICKSILVER (appletree)]

Maybe its off of a brass elephant.

 

[Montana Jim]

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4970931.html

I cannot get to the patent site from work to see the pictures... but who knows, DigEmAll may be dead on.

 

[ToddB64]

Teachers aid to help learn proper placement of the flute to the lips. It sits on top of the welded on lip plate. One blows throught the hole to make the flute whistle.

Ummmmmm........wouldn't the player's nose be smashed into the figure on top ?

 

[Montana Jim]

Teachers aid to help learn proper placement of the flute to the lips. It sits on top of the welded on lip plate. One blows throught the hole to make the flute whistle.

Ummmmmm........wouldn't the player's nose be smashed into the figure on top ?

I dunno...

 

[N.J.THer]

I wanted to thank everyone for their input. I think I may have a incense burning teachers aid. lol I'm leaning towards Incense Burner but the teachers aid concept is interesting and since it was an old school site this may make more sense. I will have to find a picture now that I have some good leads...Thanks again.

John

 

[wesfrye53]

Don't know if any of you ever watch "How It's Made on one of the Discovery Channels but they showed how flutes are made on one of the shows. The opening in the back sure looks like the hole you blow across but it seems like that figure would mess up the sound. The normal "mouthpiece sits atop the body of the flute as this figure appears to possibly do.....good a comment as any