400 year old Jingle Bell found at the old mill...

[Bavaria Mike]

Finds from Saturday. Did a night hunt with a friend on the old mill property, I figure we have a few more weeks before the mill is sold or whatever happens to it and hope it does not freeze in the meantime. My friend and I both agreed we had a nice hunt for three hours. I noticed he grunts while digging, not cool during a night hunt, LOL. Here?s the finds, a broken harmonica reed, I usually toss them as I find so many of them and only keep the whole reeds. 3 musket balls and a brass harness piece.
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A worn copper coin and a small one piece button, the shank is broken off but it was cast with the button, probably mid 1700s.
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Obverse of what I think is a 1910 Russian ? Kopek.
<center><img src="http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb7/BavariaMike/Nov07Mar08/8Dec07Kop1910O.jpg"></center><p>
Reverse of the ? Kopek.
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Obverse of two religious pendants. The cross looks really old and has a light brownish patina built up over it. Bet it is 300ish years old.
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Reverse of the religious pendants.
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A nice porcelain brooch within a brass bezel. The image is a woman in a dress walking with a man that look like come from the late 1700s or early 1800s. Any idea? This area dates 900 years and the mill 600 years.
<center><img src="http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb7/BavariaMike/Nov07Mar08/8Dec07PorcPendO.jpg"></center><p>
Reverse of the brooch, note the number 32, part of a series?
<center><img src="http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb7/BavariaMike/Nov07Mar08/8Dec07PorcPendR.jpg"></center><p>
And this most appropriate find for the season, a jingle bell that is 400-500 years old. Probably a crotal bell but hard to say. I was surprised to find the bell doing some research with exact markings and learned a little about bells. This one is a cast bell, appears to be pewter, thought it strange to learn the top holes were actually for positioning the dinger or ringer that was cast at the same time as the outer bell and not for sound or rings purposes. Always wondered how they got that over sized round ball inside them. The ringer in this bell slowly disintegrated, mixed with the soil and mostly solidified inside. The bell is described as having fish scales at the bottom and sunbursts at the top. The mounting hole was made after the bell was cast.
<center><img src="http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb7/BavariaMike/Nov07Mar08/8Dec07bell1.jpg"></center><p>
Another view of the bell. It is intact but has a little damage around the open slit. HH, Mike
<center><img src="http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb7/BavariaMike/Nov07Mar08/8Dec07bell2.jpg"></center><p>

 

[Elton]

Thats it.I'm going to come help you find all those old great items............... LOL.wow great things !!

 

[Beale]

Those are some awesome finds Mike! I really like the bell and the brooch, congrats, Beale.

 

[RonNH]

n/t

 

[pinpointa]

Hi BavariaMike,

Excellent finds it just shows what is still down their. I found a crotal bell here in Western Australia on the goldfields.Can you tell me is their a site that you can get some information on the bells.

 

[B.T]

Top stuff Mike. Your continuous great finds definitely speak volumes concerning your abilities on the end of that Terra.
Keep em coming mate.

 

[silvernail]

That "harness piece" looks like what I have been told is a "hem weight" or a "coat weight", made to be sewn into the lining to make a garment hang the way it is supposed to. Comments anyone?

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Hi Pinpointa, here's the site I used to ID my bell. HH, Mike
http://www.ukdfd.co.uk/pages/crotal-bells.html

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Thanks but hem and coat weights are usually made of lead, I have found several. This piece was mounted close to the horses cheeks on the bridle. HH, Mike