Decorative metal bar........???

[Roland58]

I've never seen anything quite like this and have no idea as to what it may be. The left portion has been broken off (I looked around, but, didn't find it). The right end has a hole drilled, obviously for mounting. It was approx. 5 - 6 inches deep and what you see is what it looked like after some soap, water and a soft brush....no corrosion or rust. Any clues???

Many thanks for any help!!!

 

[GoGoGopher]

cannot quite make out the design...is that horses???

HH,

 

[Roland58]

Yeah, two that I can make out.....one in the middle and one on the right with riders. On the left it looks like the sun coming up over mountains.....kinda. Click on the pics for a larger view and you can see it better (if you haven't done that already.

 

[edjcox]

Try useing it as a stamp with some ink... Might give you a nice idea of the picture.

Back?

 

[Roland58]

Thanks, Ed.....the stamp idea would be difficult as the pattern is of differing heights. However, it may work to do a 'rubbing' with a soft lead pencil, I'll try that and post a pic if it works. The backside is completely covered in diagonal grooves at approx. 25

 

[Roland58]

Ok, the rubbing did not work and trying to press a relief into a sheet of paper didn't work, either. I did manage to take some different pics and tried to enhance them with my photoshop program. Hopefully, you will be able to see the two horsemen & the mountains a little better now, plus, I included a shot of the obverse.

I know the first three look a lot alike, but, they really aren't the same pictures. I can't imagine what this may have come off of. Any ideas or help is much appreciated, thank you for your time and taking a look!!

 

[srf2112]

Have you determined what metal it's made of yet ?

 

[Roland58]

I know it is not aluminum (too heavy), brass, copper, gold or silver. Considering how it has been broken, it looks to be something like 'pot' metal and is surely non-ferrous as there is no rust. Also, there is no evidence of corrosion. I have done many, many searches from different angles and have come up empty handed.......it's a mystery.

 

[edjcox]

Wow... Don Quixote on the horse attacking with his sidekick on the burro behinds.... That's what's I see... Notice the sword and the ears on the burro...

 

[Roland58]

Yeah, Ed, that is what I saw, as well. A gentleman on another forum suggested that it may be part of an inlay to a knife handle......I could see that. Still doing some searching. Thanks to all for looking and commenting.

 

[Carolina Phil]

A gentleman on another forum suggested that it may be part of an inlay to a knife handle.

That's what I was thinking at first, but after looking on-line at some old knives, I kind of have my doubts. It does appear to be a decorative inlay (on wood?) of some sort, but maybe not from a knife handle.

 

[johnnybegood]

Looks like pewter to me..That could explain how it broke...Pewter loves to break...
John

 

[Roland58]

I am inclined to agree with you on the pewter....both on the looks and the way it broke. The lines on the back interest me, it seems they woiud have had a purpose, i.e., better gjue adhesion. What ever it is, I think it is cool!

 

[SilverSeeker247]

It could have been a decorative piece on a wooden box? i originally thought it could be a tourist key chain fob? the design looks like from the middle ages or at least European, but since it hasn't corroded much it can't be that old?