The top off the coffin opens to reveal a compartment and there is a tiny square hole in the bottom of the compartment, leading to the pin chamber. 2'' long by 3/4'' wide, 1/2 inch deep,
any ideas what this thing is?
help identifying mystery item
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The top off the coffin opens to reveal a compartment and there is a tiny square hole in the bottom of the compartment, leading to the pin chamber. 2'' long by 3/4'' wide, 1/2 inch deep,
any ideas what this thing is?
Shrine for Anthony's Weiner?
Is it for storing needles? The plunger thing could be where needles are inserted or dispensed from.
The relaxed plunger might create a constriction, to prevent needles from falling out ordinarily.
What is that small pin visible through the hole in the plunger? Is it a hollow metal tube, or a solid metal rod?
Does that metal bit pull out? Is it a broken needle that's become jammed in the mechanism? Or does it appear to be part of the device?
How big is the internal chamber? Is it big enough to store needles?
The relaxed plunger might create a constriction, to prevent needles from falling out ordinarily.
What is that small pin visible through the hole in the plunger? Is it a hollow metal tube, or a solid metal rod?
Does that metal bit pull out? Is it a broken needle that's become jammed in the mechanism? Or does it appear to be part of the device?
How big is the internal chamber? Is it big enough to store needles?
i don't know it's my sister-in-laws the only info i have is what i posted. it's not very big the whole thing is a couple inches long and the compartment is about 1/2 inch deep. interesting idea, i'll ask her about it.
My money's on snuff box.
Why? Any weird small item on the Antiques Roadshow always turns out to be a snuff box.
The blunt spike within the plunger may suggest a very sado-masochistic snuff box. Which is the only kind, really.
Besides, it seems the right size for a snuff box. (I've no idea why I just said that.
)
My money's on snuff box.
Why? Any weird small item on the Antiques Roadshow always turns out to be a snuff box.
The blunt spike within the plunger may suggest a very sado-masochistic snuff box. Which is the only kind, really.
It's times like this I would normally google image search to see if anything similar pops up, but I'm kinda nervous about what I'd see if I searched for "sado-masochistic snuff".
And I'm not entirely sure that adding "box" onto the end of that search string would help matters....
^^^ I just had a go myself. It was disappointing. 
Another idea.
Is it some sort of injection device? If that metal pin is hollow and is part of the device, it might be intended to puncture skin, by pressing the plunger against some part of the body. The plunger keeps the needle safe normally.
But the needle is too short to be intravenous, and wouldn't penetrate the skin... so perhaps it is for injecting into skin. ie, tattooing? The coffin motif would fit with that.
Is it some sort of injection device? If that metal pin is hollow and is part of the device, it might be intended to puncture skin, by pressing the plunger against some part of the body. The plunger keeps the needle safe normally.
But the needle is too short to be intravenous, and wouldn't penetrate the skin... so perhaps it is for injecting into skin. ie, tattooing? The coffin motif would fit with that.
Can you tell us exactly what the writing on the object is?
that's an interesting idea. still haven't gotten an answer about the "pin" from my SIL.
the letters in the circle are CR the word under that is depose
My first thought was it might have been for holding vials of holly oils for the sacrament for the dying.
But don't ask me to bet the farm on it.
I think the "pin" at the end is what was left of a loop to hang something from it or onto it.
But don't ask me to bet the farm on it.
I think the "pin" at the end is what was left of a loop to hang something from it or onto it.
Quick Google suggests "Depose" may be a name of a European house of jewellers. It may represent a locket of some form. It seems the right size, and the aforementioned "pin" loop may go with it. "CR" could be a personalisation, although it's a little too small.
There was a firm called Depose that made buttons, pins, badges etc. Maybe it is something made by that firm?
Depose buttons
Depose buttons
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Depose means "registered." This coffin crucifix below has some similar features to the object above:
it looks like a Victorian hypospray 
my first thought it was some sort of money box then i saw the pics again and relised it was too small
maybe it's some sort of suicide box thing?
edit ; looking again it dosent look very water tight
my first thought it was some sort of money box then i saw the pics again and relised it was too small
maybe it's some sort of suicide box thing?
edit ; looking again it dosent look very water tight
Could it be antique something that was used to start fire?
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