Need help in identifying an object: Is that human remains found inside antique cutlery's handlebar?

Discussion in 'Metalware' started by seven_williams, Nov 9, 2018.

  1. Lecollectionneur

    Lecollectionneur Well-Known Member

    The filler seems to be totally normal for cutlery, mix of fine sand and sulphur or sand with heat melting shellac, they are a lot of possibilities.
    I have only recipes in french, the result you have comes with washing machine typically, or with time after cleaning with too hot water, totally normal, an important part of my workshop time is to reassemble those handles, the worst ones are the french which crush only by eyes power…
     
  2. seven_williams

    seven_williams New Member

    Thank you so much everyone, especially Bakersgma, Fid, and Lecollectionneur!

    I guess the weak spot of my assumptions was to think that a premium German item can not be rattling :) And if it does, something that's inside it should be special.

    The item was obtained as a war trophey near end of WW2, so I guess its previous owner had potentially good reasons to conceal his belongings.

    Not human remains maybe ;) but it did really look curious — this combination of some name and dates, and this dusty-sandy filler.

    Agree with Hollyblue, Fid and Lecollectionneur and all — this sand looks like a filler, and Fid's explanation about Secondelieutenant ausser Dienst seems very valid.

    I wanted to make a few more fresh photos of this item to show you, and I noticed it has a monogram on the other side of the handle. Who do you think it could be? And also — what is this item for?

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    Last edited: Nov 13, 2018
  3. seven_williams

    seven_williams New Member

    Hm.. Could this by chance be from Franz Joseph?
     
  4. Lecollectionneur

    Lecollectionneur Well-Known Member

    Have you made a search on specialised webstites about crowns in heraldic, it's very well reglemented by countries and can help you to find dates etc…
     
  5. kyratango

    kyratango Bug jewellery addiction!

    Maybe it is just me, (always sad when seeing old things being broken) but I’m wondering if it is worth to spend time researching the maker of a piece destroyed with scissors in the attempt to reach « gems » rattling in the handle:eek::facepalm:;)
    7221B434-C218-40B7-8931-CAF6FF25E974.jpeg
     
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  6. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    An action which probably condemned this piece to be sent to the scrapper, unless seven wants to invest in a good repair. Which could be more expensive than the fish slide was worth before the damage.
     
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  7. Fid

    Fid Well-Known Member

    JMHO
    this piece is not destroyed, but simply has some handicaps we all have at a certain age.
    cleansed, fresh putty in, et voilà, as new as a newborn.
    P.S.: the crown could indeed be the one of Franz Joseph. but to get a logic history of the item, we'd need to know more about it's provenance.
     
  8. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    The crown is an imperial crown. But I don't know if the household of Franz Josef is likely to have used German rather than Austrian silver cutlery.
     
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  9. seven_williams

    seven_williams New Member

    Hey Kyra, don't be sad. I did not use scissors to cut it open. :) Wonder what would you do if you were in my place and were not too savvy in collecting antiques? Would you not be curious to open it?

    Good hint! Thanks. Don't think I am going to send it to a scrapper though.

    Yep, restoring seems like a plan! I tried not to damage it too much. It will get a new non-rattling putty and a fresh look.

    Hard to tell of the provenance though. I guess the item itself is all I know and have about it.
     
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  10. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    Good Luck with your restoration! :)
     
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  11. kyratango

    kyratango Bug jewellery addiction!

    Ha, I thought you used the scissors in your pic to cut the bottom of the handle :cyclops::sorry::shame:! Glad It can be restored, seems an interesting piece, withe the imperial crown:)
    A radiography;):doctor::droid:
     
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  12. Lecollectionneur

    Lecollectionneur Well-Known Member

    Interresting to restore that item, like reconstruction of a broken egg in terms of time and efforts for a result…:bag:
     
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  13. Wodawolly

    Wodawolly Member

    Your mystery object appears to be a Fish Serving Knife. I would guess the number 900 is the european use for silver content. Attached pic of a server with a similar blade
     

    Attached Files:

  14. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    Welcome to the Forum, Wodawally! :)
     

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