One for the antiques experts
Discussion
I was recently given a collection of bric-a-brac, amongst which are two intriguing items. Google hasn't thrown up any clues.
First off is a brass cartridge case, which I'm pretty sure is a .303, but intricately carved in what appears to be an Indian style. It's 56mm high:
With a bit of jiggling I can show you all the carving like this:
Next to it in the box is a tiny 'stand' just 26mm high with a carved and polished agate base and possibly silver carved top in Corinthian style:
Interestingly the diameter of the hole in this is exactly the same as that in the top of the cartridge case (approx 8mm), so I wonder if it originally contained the bullet.
Has anyone seen anything like this before, or have an idea of any value?
First off is a brass cartridge case, which I'm pretty sure is a .303, but intricately carved in what appears to be an Indian style. It's 56mm high:
With a bit of jiggling I can show you all the carving like this:
Next to it in the box is a tiny 'stand' just 26mm high with a carved and polished agate base and possibly silver carved top in Corinthian style:
Interestingly the diameter of the hole in this is exactly the same as that in the top of the cartridge case (approx 8mm), so I wonder if it originally contained the bullet.
Has anyone seen anything like this before, or have an idea of any value?
BigLepton said:
Intricately carved pieces of bone or shell cases usually done by prisoners of war are collectively known as 'Scrimshaw' and I think that's what your .303 case is. Might help in your search.
That's a good point. I'd only thought of it being by Napoleonic seamen, but I guess it happens in all wars. I wonder what nationality the prisoner was, and where he was?
Simpo Two said:
I was recently given a collection of bric-a-brac, amongst which are two intriguing items. Google hasn't thrown up any clues.
First off is a brass cartridge case, which I'm pretty sure is a .303, but intricately carved in what appears to be an Indian style. It's 56mm high:
With a bit of jiggling I can show you all the carving like this:
Next to it in the box is a tiny 'stand' just 26mm high with a carved and polished agate base and possibly silver carved top in Corinthian style:
Interestingly the diameter of the hole in this is exactly the same as that in the top of the cartridge case (approx 8mm), so I wonder if it originally contained the bullet.
Has anyone seen anything like this before, or have an idea of any value?
Seal (as in wax seal) and melting potFirst off is a brass cartridge case, which I'm pretty sure is a .303, but intricately carved in what appears to be an Indian style. It's 56mm high:
With a bit of jiggling I can show you all the carving like this:
Next to it in the box is a tiny 'stand' just 26mm high with a carved and polished agate base and possibly silver carved top in Corinthian style:
Interestingly the diameter of the hole in this is exactly the same as that in the top of the cartridge case (approx 8mm), so I wonder if it originally contained the bullet.
Has anyone seen anything like this before, or have an idea of any value?
Simpo Two said:
BigLepton said:
Intricately carved pieces of bone or shell cases usually done by prisoners of war are collectively known as 'Scrimshaw' and I think that's what your .303 case is. Might help in your search.
That's a good point. I'd only thought of it being by Napoleonic seamen, but I guess it happens in all wars. I wonder what nationality the prisoner was, and where he was?
The design looks a bit Japanese to me.
BigLepton said:
If it's a .303 (does it say anything on the blunt end?) it could be anywhere between 1889 and the presnt day pretty much. So, Boer war, WW1, various Irish conflicts, pretty much any part of the empire (India, Malaysia, far east etc, etc) or even WW2. Lots of internment and POW action in most of those. The design looks a bit Japanese to me.
The blunt end has the central area carved (I forgot to photograph that) and the surrounding area is plain - no ID marks. My hunch is Far East. Family memories are getting hazy now but I also have a silk escape map of French Indo-China which I think is WW2 and may well have come from the same person. Thanks for the thoughts.Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff