A couple of tchotchkes..

Dmitry · 3rd November 2010, 08:26 PM

..or so they thought! Resistance was weak, and I came out the victor!
Here's what one can still buy in a provincial New England auction. Straight from the barn.

Matchlock · 3rd November 2010, 08:32 PM

Well done, Dmitry,

Very good and homogenuous original surfaces!

Best,
Michael

fearn · 3rd November 2010, 08:45 PM

Look like spontoon heads. Wonder how old they are?

Great find!

Best,

F

Matchlock · 3rd November 2010, 09:03 PM

Right, fearn,

They definitely do. Though not being an expert in this field, I would roughly assign them to ca. 1700-1750. What do you think, Dmitry?

Best,
Michael

Dmitry · 4th November 2010, 01:42 AM

Yes, they are, as pointed above, spontoons. American, Colonial period. Dating these is tough for me, but I would say 1750-1780.
The earlier-dated examples that I've seen, are better made, whereas the Revolutionary War period pieces often were quick jobs, 'village blacksmith specials'. The bigger one is especially crude. The smaller one could, perhaps, double as a linstock.

fernando · 5th November 2010, 09:14 PM

Both most interesting

Dmitry · 9th November 2010, 04:54 AM

They are perhaps interesting, but certainly not very collectible, probably because there are so few of them remaining. That, and the fact that they are not quite appealing, esthetically.

Matchlock · 10th November 2010, 05:54 PM

A few older and better quality kind of spontoons, Swedish, ca. 1700, just sold at auction at Probus, Stockholm.

Best,
Michael

3rd November 2010, 08:26 PM	#1
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	A couple of tchotchkes.. ..or so they thought! Resistance was weak, and I came out the victor! Here's what one can still buy in a provincial New England auction. Straight from the barn. Attached Images

4th November 2010, 01:42 AM	#5
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	Yes, they are, as pointed above, spontoons. American, Colonial period. Dating these is tough for me, but I would say 1750-1780. The earlier-dated examples that I've seen, are better made, whereas the Revolutionary War period pieces often were quick jobs, 'village blacksmith specials'. The bigger one is especially crude. The smaller one could, perhaps, double as a linstock. Attached Images

9th November 2010, 04:54 AM	#7
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	They are perhaps interesting, but certainly not very collectible, probably because there are so few of them remaining. That, and the fact that they are not quite appealing, esthetically. Attached Images

10th November 2010, 05:54 PM	#8
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A few older and better quality kind of spontoons, Swedish, ca. 1700, just sold at auction at Probus, Stockholm. Best, Michael Attached Images

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3rd November 2010, 08:32 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Well done, Dmitry, Very good and homogenuous original surfaces! Best, Michael

3rd November 2010, 08:45 PM	#3
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Look like spontoon heads. Wonder how old they are? Great find! Best, F

3rd November 2010, 09:03 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Right, fearn, They definitely do. Though not being an expert in this field, I would roughly assign them to ca. 1700-1750. What do you think, Dmitry? Best, Michael

5th November 2010, 09:14 PM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Both most interesting