rwolfe Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 My wife and I were out today in northern Indiana today and stopped by a few antique stores for some browsing and I saw these two old blacksmithed items in the same booth. They were cheap - $3 each - so I picked them up. I am confident the spatula is old and would have paid more for it. Anyone have an idea when this pattern went out of style? I'd like to think it could be Colonial. I have no clue to what the second item is. Anyone have an idea? The elements are nicely forge welded together in the center. I think this item is old but for some reason it doesn't "feel" as old as the spatula. What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 Looks to me like the second item was a decoration to stick in the ground. I think the points on the end are just a little bent in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 I vote for a pot trellis on #2. Something decorative to let the potted plants climb in the window. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothBore Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 1 hour ago, Frosty said: I vote for a pot trellis on #2. Frosty The Lucky. All the pot I've ever seen, had a good stout stem. No trellis needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seldom (dick renker) Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubalcain2 Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 maybe a scraper of some sort? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwolfe Posted January 6, 2017 Author Share Posted January 6, 2017 Thanks for the replies. Never heard of a pot trellis. Sounds reasonable though. Did a search on "pot trellis" and "antique pot trellis" and did not see very close but that doesn't mean it isn't one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwolfe Posted January 6, 2017 Author Share Posted January 6, 2017 I was just given this suggestion by Kelly Kring on my state blacksmithing site. "These are very stylistically Pennsylvania Dutch ironwork pieces. Both most likely late 1700's-early 1800's. The fork is a meat fork. It's believed to be used for cooking meat by the hearth and the scrolls allowed it to be laid across a trivet or some other fire tool that propped up the fork end out of the coals. The loop was to hang it from a nail next to the hearth when not in use." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwolfe Posted January 6, 2017 Author Share Posted January 6, 2017 I found these two images on Google Pictures. Both being described as roasting forks. Similar enough to mine i think I'll go with that unless better information comes in. Roasting fork sound better that pot trellis! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 Interesting. That's proof enough for me. Wonder how much it's worth... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wroughton Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 On January 6, 2017 at 8:55 AM, C-1ToolSteel said: Interesting. That's proof enough for me. Wonder how much it's worth... I start at what it would take a competent smith to replicate ($150-$300, depending on construction), add on historical significance ($150), Lbs of wrought iron (WI sells from $2.50 to $6.00 Per lb). Now can you get someone to pay $400 to $500 for it? Makes buying a 100lb post vise for $100 a little easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 especially if that 100# postvise is made from wrought iron! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwolfe Posted January 8, 2017 Author Share Posted January 8, 2017 Well, as to worth, I paid $3 for it so it's worth at least that much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 I like you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 In rwolfe's 4th post, the upper fork looks mucho Spanish. I have one, and they are very flimsy, made as wall hangers for tourists. Mention of their forge-welded manufacture can be found in the book "The Blacksmith and His Art" by Hawley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 On 1/5/2017 at 6:45 PM, SmoothBore said: All the pot I've ever seen, had a good stout stem. No trellis needed. Goes a long way to explain your Avatar. Separate the stems and seeds. Where'd you go to school? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothBore Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 On 1/8/2017 at 6:46 PM, Frosty said: Where'd you go to school? Frosty The Lucky. The Pratt Institute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mutant Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 6 minutes ago, SmoothBore said: The Pratt Institute. I almost went to Prat. Wound up at SVA instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.