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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: greenacres on November 14, 2009, 02:52:45 PM

Title: antique carved shoe horn made of and usual bone
Post by: greenacres on November 14, 2009, 02:52:45 PM

This was found in Old City Philadelphia. I can't seem to figure out what the material is. :)

Title: Re: antique carved shoe horn made of and usual bone
Post by: KC on November 14, 2009, 04:14:02 PM

The "shoe horn" appears to be made out of horn.  Typically oxen horn or bull horn were used.

Title: Re: antique carved shoe horn made of and usual bone
Post by: greenacres on November 14, 2009, 04:26:05 PM

Thanks. It looks like a rat to me. You can see the carved teeth.

Title: Re: antique carved shoe horn made of and usual bone
Post by: sapphire on November 14, 2009, 04:44:46 PM

Don't know about a rat......maybe a bat??  Whatever it is, it sure ain't pretty!   :D

Title: Re: antique carved shoe horn made of and usual bone
Post by: greenacres on November 14, 2009, 06:16:29 PM

LOL, we've become fond of him. only a face a mother can love

Title: Re: antique carved shoe horn made of and usual bone
Post by: KC on November 15, 2009, 12:11:11 AM

A gargoyle?

Title: Re: antique carved shoe horn made of and usual bone
Post by: greenacres on November 15, 2009, 12:28:13 AM

maybe, it also has a tail. now i'm starting to think why we liked him so much. lol

Title: Re: antique carved shoe horn made of and usual bone
Post by: fancypants on November 15, 2009, 09:37:35 AM

Altho I've searched for one like yours and found none , perhaps it may be theme-based upon a famous brand ?

Title: Re: antique carved shoe horn made of and usual bone
Post by: greenacres on November 15, 2009, 09:54:51 AM

I've seen carved shoe horns, but none like this. I definitely don't think it was manufactured. It was hand done.

Title: Re: antique carved shoe horn made of and usual bone
Post by: sapphire on November 15, 2009, 10:52:15 AM

greenacres, while I don't know anything about these (or much else  ;)) I'm thinking, because of the length of it, your shoe horn was made for riding boots.  

This doesn't look like yours, figure wise, but the length and fact that they feel it was personally carved for someone in relation to their possible interests makes it a possibility.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HUNTING-RIDING-BOOT-SHOEHORN-CARVED-GREYHOUND-DOG-HEAD_W0QQitemZ370284395666QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxq20091103?IMSfp=TL091103169002r14755#ht_1172wt_1167


I wish they had included more pics for comparison. But you can see the wrist strap attached as with yours.

Edited to add:  Oops, I should have scrolled down a little further  :D

Title: Re: antique carved shoe horn made of and usual bone
Post by: sapphire on November 15, 2009, 11:06:36 AM

Another, again with similarities.  They mention a gargoyle head, unfortunately there is no closeup.....but the shaft does look close to yours.

http://cgi.ebay.com/SHOE-HORN-GARGOYLE-HEAD-EXTREMELY-RARE-WOODEN-RARE-NICE_W0QQitemZ370186884307QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=&itemid=370186884307#ht_1135wt_941

Title: Re: antique carved shoe horn made of and usual bone
Post by: sapphire on November 15, 2009, 11:15:23 AM

Getting closer  ;)  Check the additional pics (Zoom, then Next)

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-dog-boot-or-shoe-horn-w-orig-label-from

Title: Re: antique carved shoe horn made of and usual bone
Post by: KC on November 15, 2009, 11:22:26 AM

These items were very prestigious to own for the well-to-do.  Many were custom made!  So this probably had a personal connection to the original owner.

I

Title: Re: antique carved shoe horn made of and usual bone
Post by: greenacres on November 15, 2009, 01:30:03 PM

Thanks alot I'll check out the site ;D

Title: Re: antique carved shoe horn made of and usual bone
Post by: greenacres on November 15, 2009, 01:32:52 PM

Sapphire I v'e seen the one you posted as I was researching, But it was hard to tell that it wasn't the same material, so I wasn't sure. Thanks

Title: Re: antique carved shoe horn made of and usual bone
Post by: greenacres on November 15, 2009, 01:35:08 PM

The 2nd site seems like. The middle piece is very similar.