WHAT IS THIS???

[jacon4]

It's a bird, It's a plane, NO! It's......oh hell, i have no clue what it is, lol.

[katerina00]

damn, i got excited then.. i thought someone had finally figured it out   

[katerina00]

thanks mart, i really appreciate it.. i;ve busted my chops looking for what this thing could be too

[mart]

LOL  !!  Jacon4, we don`t know either !!  I am thinking of  what to call it and post is all I can come up with  !! Where it might have been used is the big question too !! Bank, gov`t offices, church, courthouses It doesn`t have the loop for something to put a rope through so it isn`t a marking post of any kind and its too short,,( sorry cogar ! IO even looked at one site that had something similar for a paper towel holder and the base was simillar but I don`t think this one is it either !!
Have you looked at it closely with a magnifier for a foundry mark ??

[katerina00]

I've looked at it closely, no marks.. Nothing. It's sO frustrating!! I wouldn't even know what to call th shape either, it's not a tower, is it a column idk

[rsorgel]

is it? possibly? related to this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/circa-1900s-ANTIQUE-BRONZE-STAND-CYLYNDER-OIL-LAMP-LANTERN-CANDLE-CANDLESTICK-/170720144290?_trksid=p3284.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D21%26pmod%3D110768445588%26ps%3D54
just an idea that crossed my mind. since the base is hollow it could hold oil. a wick could be run up the column. another thought was a lamp base but an oil lamp makes more sense

[katerina00]

good thinking but there isn't a hole to allow for a wick, I thought it might be an antique lamp base but there are no cords running thru it. I also thought it might be this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SOLID-BRONZE-ANDIRONS-BOW-TIE-DECORATION-/270876389052?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f117daebc#ht_571wt_1185

andirons are used to hold logs in a fire place but there is no hole for the bar of metal to sit in in order to hold the logs.. gahhhhhhh! so confusing 

[KevinM]

I think it might be a hat stand for use on a desk, table or dresser. It could also have been used as a door stop/porter if it's heavy enough.

Look for wear on it. If there is a lot of wear on the top and around the sides of the base and the felt bottom then I would guess a door stop/porter or something that was relocated a lot.

If there is a lot of wear on just the top then I would say a hat stand or possibly just a decorative piece used for that purpose.

[katerina00]

there doesn;t seem to be much wear on it at all, if any.. i'm stumped, I have no idea what it could be

[fancypants]

Well , my 2 cent opinion goes like :

Looks like an item that was once common to see on desktops , esp. with 'boss' types , most frequently these mildly-disguised phallic do-dads were sold in pairs , &/or as components of a fully-furnished desktop .

Heavy enough for a person on the other side of the desk to maybe think about not sayin' anything that mighta gotten a person whacked with one or two , back in the day .

Nice heavy cast & machined 'formerly-macho feng shui-esque' item , katerina00 .

I'm only guessing , but perhaps 1920's-1930's .

[KC]

Okay.....Going to chime in.  I believe it is what it is....a decorative piece.  It resembles tabletop pieces that Kevin M stated were to place a hat on...(and believe it or not, if it was a soft felt or cloth hat would not necessarily leave any wear marks), but they generally have larger flat tops so as not to disfigure the hat - so this pointier finial most likely rules that out.

The baluster style with finial and 3 part construction resembles a decorative items in the mid 90's!!  Generally much older pieces would be 2 part or solid piece unless they were candles.

Can you best describe what you think the finial is?

[katerina00]

i have absolutely NO idea what it is, I've asked all the older people in my life as well and none of them have any idea either. This is a complete mystery to me, I'm even having trouble finding anything similar to it on the net..

[mart]

http://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=&bih=&q=brass%2Fbronze+desk+top+column+17+in&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2
Look at the one on the top row here !! Can`t read description ( dial up is giving me fits this morning) but its a similar piece, same form just different maker I think !!

[katerina00]

I guess that's the closest we're ever going to get to establishing what it is..

[mart]

Well, at least we know that there were a few things with no particular use and designed to make people ask questions !!  We will find it eventually,, just give us another ten years or so !!