Today’s mystery object is made of metal. It measures five and a half inches long and two and three-quarters inches at its widest. It is marked Sheffield (silver plate) on its underside, and has the manufacturer’s mark P&B on the underside of the handle.
So…what is it?
If you think you know, post your guess in the comments section. If you know you know, post your answer also…but please, don’t post links to pictures to prove that you know. That tends to bring the guessing to a screeching halt, which isn’t much fun for anyone. All correct guesses will be entered in a drawing to receive (ta da!) an autographed review copy of my upcoming YA historical (and prequel to Bewitching Season and Betraying Season) , Courtship and Curses, due out from Henry Holt Books for Young Readers in August!I’ll accept guesses through next Monday evening and post the answer—and the name of the winner—on Tuesday. If no one guesses correctly, I’ll draw a winner from among all the commenters, so go for it!*
Have fun!
*Alas, due to prohibitive postage costs, I will ship only to US and Canadian addresses. I'm sorry!
My guess is that it is for warming sealing wax over a candle until it melts and can be poured on the envelope to seal it. I have absolutely no idea what one might call such a contraption. But that would be my guess :)
ReplyDeletesOMETHNG WITH TEA?? I HAVE NO IDEA!!!
ReplyDeleteMaybe a medicine dispenser like a personal laudanum spoon :)
ReplyDeleteI think it may be an invalid feeder and/or medicine spoon. Cool artifact!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a spoon for feeding someone who is "unwell" or can't feed themselves. Or for pouring medicine into the ear? I want one just so people ask what it is!
ReplyDeleteI think its something where you heat the bottom over a candle and then pour the product out the spout- maybe a medicine.
ReplyDeleteAnd Will you post to NZ if i pay the postage :)
If not thats cool :D
Total shot in the dark,...egg yolk/white separator? Whatever it is, it's very cool looking!
ReplyDeleteUm, an old-fashioned version of a Neti Pot? Often used during a time before antihistamines?
ReplyDeleteA tea strainer?
ReplyDeleteIs it a pap spoon for feeding infants and invalids?
ReplyDeleteIt's an invalid spoon/feeder. I've seen some that actually have a covered handle.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting another contest! Our bookstores don't carry any of Ms. Doyle's books :*(
I'm guessing an earwax remover/oil dispenser -- something to do with clearing out an ear ;)
ReplyDeleteWithout reading the other comments yet, I guess a baby feeder. Or an ear medicine dispenser.
ReplyDeleteI have no guesses at all. I have never seen anything like that at all. I just want to say Hi to the Valdez Quints! from QNPoohBear
ReplyDeleteit's called an invalid spoon.
ReplyDeleteSomething used to pour medicine into an ear?
ReplyDeleteI really liked the sealing wax guess though. I hadn't thought of that one!
I've been looking through a whole bunch of antique silverware online, and the best I can come up with after looking at all those pictures is that it's a ladle of some sort. Maybe a punch ladle?
ReplyDeleteMarissa, does this have anything to do with ear candling--using warm wax to get ear wax out of ears? Just a weird guess. What a great little object.
ReplyDelete