Unknown strange thing... tool?

eftihis · 3rd August 2006, 05:36 PM

I dont have a clue what this mysterious object is! It has a hole on the back so it seems it was attached on a shaft.
Any ideas welcome!

ausjulius · 3rd August 2006, 11:24 PM

looks like some sort of voodoo device ???

fearn · 4th August 2006, 04:49 AM

Perhaps it's an elaborate serving fork?

Those inlays on the wood handle look a bit like some sort of astrological sign, but if it's a ritual tool, it's a new one on me.

My other guess is that it's what we call a doodad here in the US, possibly made by a hobbyist with some time on his hands and, shall we politely say, a unique sense of design?

F

drdavid · 4th August 2006, 07:38 AM

IMHO it is a highly advanced pair of hedging shears where you set the angle of the cut using the adjustable hands , the inscriptions are to inform the user as to the correct phase of the moon for each hedge plant, unfortunately the mechanism for activating the blades has long since disappeared

drd

Bill · 4th August 2006, 11:03 AM

What parts, if any, were ever sharpened. Looks almost like a device to cut a rope. In old naval battles, they would load the cannons with steel bars, & shoot high to damage the riggings & sails. I wonder if in some old naval battles they ever threw hooks or gaffs on a rope to try & pull down/damage riggings. If they did, maybe your "device" might be used to cut the offending ropes. ...or a voodoo doodad serving fork

katana · 4th August 2006, 12:23 PM

The bladed section looks like a set of sheep shearing clippers......perhaps it was used by a 'wandering' sheep shearer.
The 'device' is mounted on a pole placed in the ground.....the two rotating pointers are in fact hour/minute hands......set at the time shearing services are available......hey presto... a mobile sign...that tells you the services offered and his 'opening time' without the use of language.......

mross · 4th August 2006, 06:22 PM

I'll take a WAG and say a masonry or builders tool for mapping angles and positions.

not2sharp · 4th August 2006, 07:05 PM

Might that be some kind of time keeping device? Perhaps if you set it up correctly it would lead you to the ark of the covenant.

n2s

ham · 4th August 2006, 07:14 PM

Looks to be a staffhead from a Shi'ite processional, work probably
Hazara (Afghan.) Interesting piece

Ham

3rd August 2006, 05:36 PM	#1
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 511	Unknown strange thing... tool? I dont have a clue what this mysterious object is! It has a hole on the back so it seems it was attached on a shaft. Any ideas welcome! Attached Images

4th August 2006, 07:38 AM	#4
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 372	No Really IMHO it is a highly advanced pair of hedging shears where you set the angle of the cut using the adjustable hands , the inscriptions are to inform the user as to the correct phase of the moon for each hedge plant, unfortunately the mechanism for activating the blades has long since disappeared drd

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3rd August 2006, 11:24 PM	#2
ausjulius Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: musorian territory Posts: 438	looks like some sort of voodoo device ???

4th August 2006, 04:49 AM	#3
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Perhaps it's an elaborate serving fork? Those inlays on the wood handle look a bit like some sort of astrological sign, but if it's a ritual tool, it's a new one on me. My other guess is that it's what we call a doodad here in the US, possibly made by a hobbyist with some time on his hands and, shall we politely say, a unique sense of design? F

4th August 2006, 11:03 AM	#5
Bill Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago area Posts: 327	What parts, if any, were ever sharpened. Looks almost like a device to cut a rope. In old naval battles, they would load the cannons with steel bars, & shoot high to damage the riggings & sails. I wonder if in some old naval battles they ever threw hooks or gaffs on a rope to try & pull down/damage riggings. If they did, maybe your "device" might be used to cut the offending ropes. ...or a voodoo doodad serving fork

4th August 2006, 12:23 PM	#6
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	The bladed section looks like a set of sheep shearing clippers......perhaps it was used by a 'wandering' sheep shearer. The 'device' is mounted on a pole placed in the ground.....the two rotating pointers are in fact hour/minute hands......set at the time shearing services are available......hey presto... a mobile sign...that tells you the services offered and his 'opening time' without the use of language.......

4th August 2006, 06:22 PM	#7
mross Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 478	I'll take a WAG and say a masonry or builders tool for mapping angles and positions.

4th August 2006, 07:05 PM	#8
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	Might that be some kind of time keeping device? Perhaps if you set it up correctly it would lead you to the ark of the covenant. n2s

4th August 2006, 07:14 PM	#9
ham Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 190	Looks to be a staffhead from a Shi'ite processional, work probably Hazara (Afghan.) Interesting piece Ham