Colonial Pennsylvania Antique

[talesofthesevenseas]

Here's a thought- Since he is holding a scale, could this have been a weight of some sort? It would be interesting to know if it weight is consistant with a common measure of weight used during the 18th century.

[regularjoe2]

I think what was meant was that the figure is maintaining his balance by holding on to the hitching post , talesof ...

I'm still thinkin'/searching on this one .

[cogar]

It's 1 3/4" across by approx 1/2 " think.  It's solid brass or bronze and also the front rim or border is flush with the figure.

Now you all can guess all you want to as to what the “figure” is but the first thing you need to guess is, ……. “why is it 1 ¾ inches in diameter and ½ inch in thickness and made of solid brass?”

Now those dimensions alone limits what it could have been used for, regardless of what the image is on the front of it.

Now me guessed wrong about it being a "running" figure but me still thinks that it is part of a paper embossing stamp, to wit, like this:

[regularjoe2]

My best guess is that it is a privy seal or signet ( although the fact that it's in relief puzzles me a bit - they're not unknown to be this nomenclature , but... ) .

There's a pretty good bunch of research on seals at Dr. Dianne Tillotsons' website : www.medievalwriting .50megs.com/writing.htm

It's not really uncommon for seals to be of large diameter , in those from the 13th through 18th centuries .

Here's a photo of one for the Nachod Town (c1570) .

[cogar]

( although the fact that it's in relief puzzles me a bit - they're not unknown to be this nomenclature , but... ).

RJ, I'm not sure what you mean by "in relief". It has me confused.

[regularjoe2]

Hey cogar ... didn't mean to get anyone as confused as I am ....

What I meant was that the object in question is a 'raised relief' (pooches out from the surface) , v.s. a carved relief (dug out of a flat surface) .... i.e. - 'cast' v.s. 'engraved' .

[cogar]

OK, me comprendo now.

What confused me was, if it was used to emboss paper then there would have been a matching "carved relief" to go with the "raised relief" one.

[regularjoe2]

Yep , I had the same quandry .

[talesofthesevenseas]

I'll say one thing, I think this has to be about the best "What is it?" we've had on this forum!

[sapphire]

Just throwing this out there.......

I know this has moved far away from the button theory, but had to post this link to a site that makes jewelry items from old buttons. Many of the 'figures' on the old buttons reminded me of the little guy on your find.  But then myself,  I find it hard to picture the size/depth not seeing it in person.

This is certainly an interesting (and curious) piece of history.

http://www.antiquewear.com/index.html

[talesofthesevenseas]

I wonder if the "button guy" would know what this is?

[Randell01]

Its been a couple years and still no clue.  Started metal detecting again and thought I would revisit this old item again.  Any thoughts?

[hosman321]

Man, there's that one expert on Pawn Stars that knows everything there is to know about colonial coins, buttons and currency. I wonder if he would help. I'll see if I can find him.

[hosman321]

This guy.
http://www.earlyamerican.com/Auctions/ClientPages/home.php
If you have to, just suggest that you are interested in selling it with him and maybe he will tell you about it.

[hosman321]

Hm nevermind. His evaluation service is $25.