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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: Andrew on August 02, 2013, 07:24:33 AM
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Found this in my wall during renos. My home is circa 1865 and the "cup" was in the wall above the front door if that means anything.
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There was an old superstition stating that if you place a container / bottle of nails or broken glass in the wall of a new house over the door it would prevent witches from entering your home. Was the cup empty? ;)
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Odd !! Looks like a built in leather coaster !!
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The cup was empty and on it's side so I thought it may have fallen from the second floor though the balloon framing. But it could very well be a tradition which may be more likely. Andrew
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That is waaay cool! I hope you've got a great place to display it!
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Odd !! Looks like a built in leather coaster !!
there losing their power Mart....either that or its yer peepers that are needing a rest... ;D
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That was my first impression as well Wullie and my peepers are just fine!
I have seen leather covered wood cups over the years. The bottom looks like it is wrapped and the sides looks like they are pegged to hold a leather piece!!!
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That's what I thought KC !! But if the house is 1865 a wooden doesn`t seem to fit unless,,, what is your location ?? Southern states ??
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I'm very far from the southern states up here in Canada{near Ottawa} Look at this picture and you will see on each side there's a stop where it looks like something was broke off.
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Perhaps it isn`t a cup after all,,, but I have no idea what it might have been !!
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Mart maybe when the house was built the made the cup out of rough materials. They knew they were putting it behind a wall. They probably didn't want to waste a good cup.
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Mart maybe when the house was built the made the cup out of rough materials. They knew they were putting it behind a wall. They probably didn't want to waste a good cup.
that sounds Chinese..."they did,nt want to waste a good cup.....so they stick it in a wall......what a waste..if you ask me....btw...whateve r happened to that do,da...that you gave to whatshername in the museum..... ;D
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Well,, the places on the bottom look as if it had something else there and it broke,, but what I don`t know !! If it happened while house was being built,, wonder if it was a nail cup !! I mean they didn`t have nail aprons back then !! Needed someplace to put nails while hammering !! A small wooden piece on each side would have allowed it to slide or sit on the 2x4 if its wide enough !! Didn`t have to climb up and down ladder so often that way !!
Oh well,, that's my best guess,, that would also explain the leather !!
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Bigwull I'm in the middle of getting it appraised. The museum wouldn't do that, but it is what I said. The curator agreed.
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What I meant about the wooden cup was they took maybe left over building materials to make the cup, not one they personally used in the home. Sorry I can't explain it better than that,
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I was wondering if it was a nail cup as well Mart! They would make them on a stick to hand up to workers!!!
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Bigwull I'm in the middle of getting it appraised. The museum wouldn't do that, but it is what I said. The curator agreed.
..fiddlesticks!!
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...wonder if it was a nail cup !! I mean they didn`t have nail aprons back then !! Needed someplace to put nails while hammering !!...
Getting sidetracked here, but...
I'm curious as to why you feel they didn't use nail aprons at the time? Even the Book of Hours from 500 years ago depicts workers and tradesmen using aprons of some sort, including examples with pockets across the front.
My thinking is...anyone smart enough to build a house probably figured out where to carry his nails ;).
(http://www.toolemera.com/Photographs%20Of%20Trades%20%26%20Crafts/Resources/carpenterMO.jpg)
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Ha !! Most likely because I have never seen one from that time !! My Dad had a small compartmented tray with a handle he used sometimes and had nails of various sizes in each compartment, also had a place for his hammer on other side. He used a nail apron when framing !!