What is it brought over from Craigslist

[talesofthesevenseas]

This came up on Craigslist tonight. I thought you guys might like to give it a go. Maybe we can help this guy out. Does anyone know what he has here?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/atq/1640260527.html

Here is what is posted on C-list:






Can you please help me?
I found this in an old abandoned house we used as a
neighborhood Army fort ( smoking camp hehe)
when I was about 8 or 9 . The old guy that had lived there died years before


I have been carrying this thing off and on , trying to figure out
What this was , for over 50 years

It does not appear to be incomplete or broken anywhere.
It is non-magnetic and the plating is wearing off

The chain is connected to the inside of the box and when the V is placed
on the rubber Pad the box is 100% full.

There are NO markings anywhere

I know it is of no value--BUT

I have got to know What the heck this is- before I CROAK
The older I get –the more I just gotta know and get it off
my Kick the Bucket List

I wish I would have left this thing alone 50+ years ago
Karma is paying me back for swiping it 50 years ago from the old house

With the internet, I might finally get a clue- What this thing is

Rich Mosman
e-mail: RLM456@aol.com

[waywardangler]

This really makes no sense but judging from its' size and the fact the chain with leaf thing is fixed to the box, I am going to guess a bookmark.

[cogar]

The chain is connected to the inside of the box and when the V is placed
on the rubber Pad the box is 100% full.

Well now, my guess is that it is a Seal for making wax impressions on Legal or Official documents .... because of:

1. The Crown on the case signifies Royalty or an Official of importance.
2. The rubber pad is to prevent it from “jingling” when carried on one’s person.
3, The Wreath emblem (Seal) is affixed to a chain so that it can’t be dropped, lost, etc., but primarily so that one can extract it from the wax after the Seal’s impression has been made.

To wit:

Identification
From ancient parchment documents with wax impressions to court papers and patriotic images, seals imprint and decorate official documents. Any object that physically seals an item with a unique image or imprint is a seal. A more modern seal is an official ink stamp or an image actually imprinted onto the material itself.

Purpose
Seals used by governments, courts and legal entities show a formal procedure was followed, and that the document was properly acknowledged or witnessed. Further, because seals are unique to the authorizing agency, they prove the authenticity of a given document--it couldn't have been issued by anyone else. http://www.ehow.com/facts_5676057_seal-legal-document_.html

[waywardangler]

Possibly some Masonic ritual item with the crown and amaranth or laurel wreath?

Order of the Amaranth image is shown...

[talesofthesevenseas]

Hey look at the lower part of the wreath- Does that look like two hooks where a little sword might sit across the wreath?

[waywardangler]

Hard to tell from the pics provided but I think the two ball posts? are going the wrong way for a sword to sit.  I wonder if there are any markings on the back of the wreath object?  Maybe O of A or something in Swedish.  The Order had its' start in Sweden.

Just another guess to ponder on a little object of wonderment.

[Dean Perdue]

Sounds reasonable Cogar. Maybe the fact of not being totally flat has something to do with it being used to seal a rolled document.Just guessing.
Interesting item and would love to know for sure.

[talesofthesevenseas]

I sure wish I could find a similar example. I'm finding nothing quite like this.

[KC]

Hey Talesof - why don't you send him a note back to come to this site (or one of us can!)!.

Ask him if he can post a pic of the back of the wreath and a better close up of the wreath!  Also, does the rubber piece come out?  There might be a mark behind it.  He doesn't specify if there is a mark on the back side of the box!

[waywardangler]

I am with you, 7seas, there is nothing out there like this.  The object is chained to the lid and the box does not look like it should be closed with the chained object out.  The chained object appears to look like a half-laurel wreath with a slight hook on one side.  It would be nice to know what this laurel wreath object is made of...cast pot metal, silver, silverplate, plated brass, plated steel, etc.  Is it strong enough and sharp enough to do something like open a letter or document, cut a seal on a wine bottle, etc.?  The crown on the box is either decoration or signifies that it was used by or in a royal family.  The rubber cushioning...is it new foam or old rubber?  Has the rubber held ink?  This is a small box in comparison to the quarter pictured with it so this could fit in a pocket very easily.  Is something missing?  Is this a hook for something?  Is this a medal, award, or part of a medal or award?  If this was used to seal wax on a document, is it strong enough to stand repeated pressure on that semi-V leaved part?  It is completely a mystery as the owner has found over 50 years of possession.

[talesofthesevenseas]

OK I will email him.

[Dean Perdue]

Is it a star or a cross on top of the crown?

[KC]

The shape of the laurel branches is in that of a v for victory.

The laurel wreath has been seen as a bold symbol of victory since the Roman times!

Military, royalty, Olympics???

This will be one we have to come up with an answer!!!

[RichMosman]

Hello People
I am the Owner of this item
Thank you all for commenting
I wish I would have left this thing alone 50 years ago, hahahaa

My e-mail is RLM456@aol.com
Here are what I have been told as Guesses
- A secret key bob to get into a gentelmans club
- A Victorian Mourning locket , to keep a lock of hair from a loved one after death
-a gentelmans locket for hair from his girlfriend or wife while away
- -a snuff box
-a purse hanger with the rubber pad to hang a purse while m'lady is dining

Here are a few more pics

[RichMosman]

I see no indication it was every used as a wax impression
That was my first thought

the front and back of the V are identical

remember this entire item is only about 1" cube

The rubber does come out
NO MARKS ANYWHERE on the box, chain or wreath