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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: ElvisC on February 19, 2010, 09:44:17 PM

Title: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: ElvisC on February 19, 2010, 09:44:17 PM
Hi - I'm new to the forum and to antiquing.  I picked this item up at a tag sale but have no idea what it is.  Do you have any suggestions?  I tried to google it, but couldn't come up with a good description.  It is brass - 13 inches long and 3.5 inches wide. 
Thanks for your help.
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: regularjoe2 on February 19, 2010, 11:16:41 PM
Scary pointy-lookin' item , ElvisC .... seems like it rings a distant bell , but I'm old & forget stuff .

Welcome to the forum .

I'm wondering about any maker's marks it may have inside if it ....
can this be easily disassembled (threaded parts ?) to check for more info ?

Cool 'what is it' item !

Would make an uber-scary one like in image below .
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: cogar on February 20, 2010, 06:35:29 AM
I draw a "blank" on it also. Strange that it has a piece of iron pipe holding it together.
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: ElvisC on February 20, 2010, 09:51:08 AM
My wife is convinced that it is simply a door stop.  I think it is a 18th century implement of torture (at least that's my story until I hear what it otherwise).

Sorry I couldn't find any marks anywhere on it.  It does not come apart anywhere and the spindle in the middle does not spin or move in any way.
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: KC on February 21, 2010, 02:03:24 PM
Does it show any wear at all on the piece?  Especially note the smallest parts of the item.

I have an idea....but would like to hear back.
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: buyitonebay on February 21, 2010, 04:09:56 PM
Does the rod thru the middle spin within the item or is it fixed. The brass looks like made in india type brass imho. As far as what it is I haven't a clue...yet.
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: waywardangler on February 21, 2010, 04:11:44 PM
The way the two ends are shaped leads me to believe it has something to do with gathering material as in drapes.  Just a guess.
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: KC on February 21, 2010, 04:37:44 PM
Exact way I am going Waywar....
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: Gizmo on February 21, 2010, 10:42:23 PM
Hey, I think I stumbled across what you've got there. I had seen it in a picture or something once held by a many armed deity. I think you have a vajra dorje. I'll  post a link below (that's probably better than me stumbling through an explanation).

http://dharmacrafts.info/topics/vajra-dorje/

I'd say that's a fun little find for you. Cheers!
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on February 21, 2010, 10:50:10 PM
Way to go Gizmo!
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: Gizmo on February 21, 2010, 11:05:49 PM
Glad to help out! There are a few posted on e-bay too. It looks like most of them are around the $19.99 price range, but a few are much higher. Just for fun, here are a few links...

http://cgi.ebay.com/GIANT-BRASS-DORJE-VAJRA-THONDERBOLT-FROM-NEPAL_W0QQitemZ390159559699QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5ad7526c13

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-Nepal-Tibet-Bronze-old-Nine-Pronged-Vajra-Dorje_W0QQitemZ180454626455QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2a03ef1497


http://cgi.ebay.com/13-Tibet-Tibetan-Buddhist-Instrument-Iron-Dorje-Vajra_W0QQitemZ370333138317QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5639933d8d
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: ironlord1963 on February 21, 2010, 11:25:05 PM
Great Job Gizmo
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: waywardangler on February 21, 2010, 11:47:24 PM
I guess this peaceful vajra has nothing to do with drapes, unless one would happen to be hiding behind them with a red face.  :-[
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: KC on February 22, 2010, 02:03:36 PM
Thank goodness my family didn't find these....we would have gotten two, mounted them with brackets and hung sheers from them!  :)  Still might! 
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: Dean Perdue on February 22, 2010, 02:21:26 PM
I guess this peaceful vajra has nothing to do with drapes, unless one would happen to be hiding behind them with a red face.  :-[

Thank goodness my family didn't find these....we would have gotten two, mounted them with brackets and hung sheers from them!  :)  Still might! 

You 2 are crackin me up.
I'm amazed this one even got solved thanks to Gizmo.
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: regularjoe2 on February 22, 2010, 05:17:16 PM
May the Vajrsattva & all the dharmackaya bless you , Gizmo !
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: Gizmo on February 22, 2010, 05:40:15 PM
 :)
Title: Re: Brass Object - What is this?
Post by: ElvisC on February 22, 2010, 07:43:53 PM
Wow!  Thank you all.  I was reading through the links and totally bought the drapery line of thinking.  While I won't be making any early retirement plans, this is much cooler than a door stop.