Posted 14 years ago
Ollie
(64 items)
I bought this at a yard sale because I love unusual items, but no one knew what it was. Can anyone help me. Someting is put into it and then you can screw it tighter-prongs will stick into whatever is inserted...any ideas?????
wacky nutcracker? try it on a walnut!
This is a french "manche-a-gigot" or a lamb bone holder, to hold the bone on a leg of lamb while you carved it.
Ahhhhh...now that makes sence. The fancy handle made me think it would be used as some piece of serving tool. Thanks for your input. I have iton my kitchen window and is always a real conversation piece...now I will have a much better answer. Someelse once told me it might be used to hold horse reigns...
Hi, Ollie. Interesting piece you have there. I'm curious - is the handle horn, ebony, or stained wood? Thanks!
Not sure- I believe it is wood...hard though and it has a crack in it.
Thanks. That's OK if it's cracked - lots of these old pieces have cracks. Perhaps the crack is the reason someone has been moved to part with this piece, so I won't be hard on cracks. It is possible that the ferrule is silver and will clean up nicely. The clamping element looks rusted, but I bet it can be restored to beauty. When I enlarge the photo, I see grains in the handle that look consistent with horn. You might be able to tell which material it is if you peer inside the crack. Nice piece!