Tool from Bronze age? Help needed

[woodsy pete]

I'm guessing that this is some sort of sewing needle or tool from the Bronze age. Anyone have any idea on age or value?

[KC]

Hello Woodsy.....any background info....who's, where it's from or found?  Area of the world?

[waywardangler]

I highly doubt it is a sewing needle as how would you get that head through the hole it punched?

[CuriousCollector]

Looks like a kilt pin to me. 

[marcylove]

..unless it was used to sew fishing nets...pretty decorative for that though...

[talesofthesevenseas]

I was thinking a hair or hat pin, but that the slimest portion of the point may have broken off.

[woodsy pete]

Sorry, not much background information.  I know it was brought over from Germany and that it has been in the family for at least 5 generations but that's it.

[ironlord1963]

I'm with tales, Hat or Hair pin.   Also looks very home made or old Folk art item, made with piano wire and etc.

[mariok54]

I think Tales has hit it on the head, and I'd put my money on a hair pin

[cogar]

It could have been a key.

[hosman321]

I'm casting my vote for a hat pin as well. But a much earlier one than the mass produced ones you usually see from the late 1800's-early 1900's. When I searched "hat pin" on wikipedia, it says that a machine was made in 1832 and they were more affordable. That's probably when mass production started. This one doesn't look mass produced. Maybe it was made in the 1600's-1700's? I don't think it's bronze age but I'm not an expert. The best thing to do would be to contact a hat pin collector or collector's club. They will know if it is indeed one or if we're all way off.

[woodsy pete]

Some excellent info, thanks everyone!  Quite a shocker for me that my relatives were so far off, lol!  I'll do some research on hair or hat pins and see where that gets me.

[mariok54]

Why I'm opting for the hair pin is because of the thickness of the pin, as a hat pin it would have limited uses, straw hat or similar. However, anyone with long hair would also say that anything that is 'threaded', which this seems to be, would not be ideal as a hair pin. But my money is still on that .. that or a giant's tooth pick ... or a honey drizzler for the thrifty?