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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: MMstang22 on October 21, 2012, 09:22:12 AM

Title: What and who is this?
Post by: MMstang22 on October 21, 2012, 09:22:12 AM
I was digging a footing in Arlington MA and came apon this along with a reed and barton spoon. I don't know what this is and tried searching who it is. He looks very familiar. It is obviously to hang something I just don't know what.
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: mart on October 21, 2012, 09:26:14 AM
How big is it ??  Can we see the back ??
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: MMstang22 on October 21, 2012, 09:34:19 AM
It is about 3.5 inches tall and 2 inches wide. the back is flat with no markings on it.
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: bigwull on October 21, 2012, 09:39:48 AM
with it having a crown at the top,indicates that its European....
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: KC on October 21, 2012, 10:24:26 AM
There is a ring on the back and a hook on the bottom.  Wall hook!
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: bigwull on October 21, 2012, 10:32:14 AM
but its part of something else,i feel,...either that, or its a very elaborate way of making a wall hook....
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: ironlord1963 on October 21, 2012, 10:33:43 AM
    I think I would go with the wall hook like Bigwull mentioned.
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: bigwull on October 21, 2012, 10:37:24 AM
    I think I would go with the wall hook like Bigwull mentioned.
Noooooo that was,nt me...that was Kid Creole.... ;D
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: MMstang22 on October 21, 2012, 10:48:27 AM
Thank you everyone! Anybody have any ideas about the identity of the man? Maybe Francsis I or Henry VIII?
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: fancypants on October 21, 2012, 10:49:13 AM
Well , MMstang22 , I'd say that your item was intended for use as a 'picture-hanger' , from back in the day when high ceilings were the vogue ... homes commonly had a high cove (piece of 'trim' wood) a foot of so from the ceiling , from which framed art/pictures/etc. were hung , usually with a long chain/twisted wire/string .
The hanger was either slung over the top of the cove (kinda hooked over , held by gravity) , or a by a decorative medallion (hooked/hung on a 'standard' cove hook) .

Nowadays we kinda just try to hide such hardware , but used to be quite common to display items with the long hangings !
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: bigwull on October 21, 2012, 11:02:34 AM
Well , MMstang22 , I'd say that your item was intended for use as a 'picture-hanger' , from back in the day when high ceilings were the vogue ... homes commonly had a high cove (piece of 'trim' wood) a foot of so from the ceiling , from which framed art/pictures/etc. were hung , usually with a long chain/twisted wire/string .
The hanger was either slung over the top of the cove (kinda hooked over , held by gravity) , or a by a decorative medallion (hooked/hung on a 'standard' cove hook) .

Nowadays we kinda just try to hide such hardware , but used to be quite common to display items with the long hangings !
The word you are looking for is Picture Rail,...which was common in many Victorian houses, that had elaborate,plaster  Cornice,s and   Picture Rails, and more often than not these rooms would also have a Dado Rail or Chair Rail as they were sometimes called approx 3ft 6in up from the floor..on the wall.this was to stop chairs and sofa,s  touching the often very expensive wall covering....
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: fancypants on October 21, 2012, 11:09:10 AM
No , was known as coving (by grown-up carpenters) , bigwull .

I think the 'chair rail' you've mentioned was known as a 'top cove' , atop wainscoting .


 ;) :D ;D
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: bigwull on October 21, 2012, 11:14:14 AM
No , was known as coving (by grown-up carpenters) , bigwull .

I think the 'chair rail' you've mentioned was known as a 'top cove' , atop wainscoting .


 ;) :D ;D
Nooooooooo you,re wrang...see link for Chair/Dado Rail

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dado_rail
as for the picture rail thats what its called on the other side of the watter...
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: fancypants on October 21, 2012, 11:23:59 AM
You're fun , bigwull !

I suggest you consult with my oracle , the Squirrel of Clairity ....

 :D
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: KC on October 21, 2012, 11:41:14 AM
Sorry fancypants...this isn't a rail hanger.  My first impression was that it would be...but they had hooks on the back and not rings!  It could work as an extension from the rail hanger - however, the rosettes, cameos, etc used generally had loops on the back to slide the cords through without the hooks at the bottom,  Not to say that they didn't make some like this....but these eyes haven't seen any (which isn't saying much). See first pic!

[/img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bdLi6BG4Gxg/TMJAjBGWjDI/AAAAAAAADec/ZogTDF3YNMI/s400/IMG_5710.JPG[/img]

(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Victorian-Picture-Rail-Hangers-/00/s/MTAyNFg5ODY=/$(KGrHqFHJBsE9Bj,JgrmBPZeY(L8sg~~60_35.JPG)
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: fancypants on October 21, 2012, 12:24:04 PM
I once bought a box-full of brass & bronze medallions from a New Orleans estate , all of which were hung from hooks like those in your pic , KC , for an antebellum home in Moblie , Alabama (not to be contrary) ...
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: mart on October 21, 2012, 12:49:26 PM
I think a hanger for artwork or pictures !! Nail goes through the loop and into the wall !! I have seen them in historic houses especially in the south !!
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: greenacres on October 21, 2012, 01:49:46 PM
http://www.hooksandhangers.com/images/examples/mirrors.jpg   

These are some images of antique picture hangers.
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: bigwull on October 21, 2012, 02:10:27 PM
http://www.hooksandhangers.com/images/examples/mirrors.jpg   

These are some images of antique picture hangers.
I don,t think so G,acre...as the link suggests....i.e. images/examples/mirrors,....and what have we here...mirrors....n o ooks or angers.... :D
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: bigwull on October 21, 2012, 02:17:40 PM
I think a hanger for artwork or pictures !! Nail goes through the loop and into the wall !! I have seen them in historic houses especially in the south !!
I don,t want to be splitting hairs,...but a nail can,t go through the loop as the loop does,nt hang high of the main body of the hanger, its more of the loop, going over the nail....if you know what i mean.... ::)
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: mart on October 21, 2012, 02:32:24 PM
That works too !!  Didn`t have my cheaters on !!
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: greenacres on October 21, 2012, 02:50:17 PM
At one point I thought it was part of a pendulum.
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: KC on October 21, 2012, 07:18:05 PM
fancypants, I hope you sold them for a pretty penny or used them!  Wow!  What a treasure!!!
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: ghopper1924 on October 21, 2012, 07:25:49 PM
And yes, that's Henry VIII.
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: bigwull on October 21, 2012, 07:32:10 PM
Na, looks nothing like Henry the V111....he was a big fat guy,..probably with eating too many pkts of Tudor Crisps....you may have to google the TC,s ;D
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: fancypants on November 04, 2012, 08:13:38 PM
I think , perhaps , as an old friend of mine informed me , that these types of 'medallion' units were used , @ the heights previously discussed/cussed , for hanging temporary decorative elements for festive events (aka 'decking the halls') , such as garlands , wreathes , boughs & such .

We were in his home in NYC , watching a Ken Burns DVD from the 'Civil War' series & lo & behold ... a photo popped up with a room decorated in that fashion ... one of those go-figure moments .
I didn't stay for H. Sandy & hi-tailed it back home , barely getting out of JFK before they shut it all down .
Title: Re: What and who is this?
Post by: mart on November 05, 2012, 08:10:19 AM
Wow Fancypants !! Good thing you went home !!