What is this silver object used for?

[djabend]

The same friend that found the gold coins in the wishing well showed me this item and is wondering what it is.
It is about 4 inches long and labled sterling on both sides, but is only a hollow shell of silver.

At the end is a non silver blade that is loosely fitted inside.

He says it was filled with a white sand different from the area it was found.

Any help is greatly appreciated. HH,
Donny

 

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[CRUSADER]

Letter opener??

 

[skydiv]

pipe cleaner?

 

[mojjax]

Looks kinda like a blood letting knife .

mojjax

 

[mojjax]

Looks kinda like a blood letting knife .

mojjax

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Sterlin...oryZ4069QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[djabend]

Wow I did not think of that. Sure looks like that is it. Thanks everyone. HH,
Donny.

 

[PBK]

I believe that it may be an ink eraser— a desk accessory with a small, rounded, scalpel-like blade which was used to scrape ink from the surface of paper or parchment:

http://pages.louisvilleantiquemall..../lam350&catId=Silver-Sterling&itemNo=350ll995

 

[djabend]

Ok, so the person on ebay was selling an ink eraser as a blood letting knife? HH,
Donny

 

[PBK]

Ok, so the person on ebay was selling an ink eraser as a blood letting knife? HH,
Donny

That would seem to be the case.

Some bloodletting knives do have similar blades, but I have never seen one with an ornate silver handle like those on ink erasers.

It's not unusual for items to be mislisted on eBay, unintentionally or otherwise.

 

[dg39]

Finger and tonail pick from Victorian ladies dresser set. There were numerous other items like nail buffer etc. http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?query=ladies+victorian+manicure+set&invocationType=spelling
DG

 

[PBK]

Finger and tonail pick from Victorian ladies dresser set. There were numerous other items like nail buffer etc.
DG

Interesting. Please post a couple of links showing these identified as part of such a dresser set.

 

[dg39]

I have had sets that I sold in the past. Really don't have a link to one. Just know from my experience as an antique dealer. I am sure you could pull up a link some where. Look at shoe button hooks etc.
http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?query=ladies+victorian+manicure+set&invocationType=spelling
DG

 

[PBK]

I have had sets that I sold in the past. Really don't have a link to one. Just know from my experience as an antique dealer. I am sure you could pull up a link some where. Look at shoe button hooks etc.
DG

I know what it is, and it's an ink eraser. Over the years I've seen dozens, either in desk sets or paired with seals. I've already posted a link in support of this ID. Here's another:

http://www.sundayandsunday.com/content/inspect.asp?Item=2294&Filter=Antiques,+Collectibles

At the above site, note in particular the following statement at the beginning of the third paragraph:
"The ink eraser is commonly misrepresented as either a cuticle tool, or a fleam medical blood letting instrument (scalpel, lancet) of the Victorian era."

And another:

http://www.goantiques.com/detail,sterling-ink-eraser,1183686.html?source=BBA1518

And yet another, albeit on eBay where anything can be listed as something else (and often is):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260127533395

 

[dg39]

Twins.
DG

 

[PBK]

Twins.
DG

Thanks! Have a cigar.

The Art Nouveau example was indeed a duplicate. I have therefore deleted the first listing of it, as the second contains much more information— and confirmation of the ID.

 

[djabend]

Thanks PBK for setting the records straight. Your knowledge never ceases too amaze me HH,
Donny.

 

[ToddB64]

Looks like PBK "Slam dunked" it ! (Again.......yawn.......lol )

 

[Fleeker]

Ya have to really get up early to get one over on PBK