If it has some antique value it is generally better not to clean anything off until you know what you've got, in case you remove too much important material. I know it's too late for that now but I think it still could be worth an professional opinion.
I'm wondering if it could be what I think was called a 'fire-dog' - a removable little metal shelf from Victorian and Edwardian times, that clipped on to the front of the grate of an open fire to rest a kettle or similar vessel on (a) to boil up the water or (b) to keep it hot after it had boiled. It looks a bit 'art nouveau'.
My grandmother had a couple of these which she used in the winter when the fire was lit. I seem to remember they were quite ornate pieces of cast iron. If it is a fire-dog there should be evidence of there having once been another metal casting coming off at right angles from the wide end ( at the bottom of your picture). This would have been the bit that clipped onto the grate and the piece you have would have been the bit the kettle rested on. That's if it is a fire-dog!
My first thought actually was same as Forester2 - the end of a mud scraper - but I now think it is a bit too small for that since you need weight in those tools to stop them moving while the shoe is scraping on it.
As for tea strainer do you mean a bit like this?
Being flat your piece would have to have come from the handle part, but it is surely too big for that. The tea strainer in my photo is about 10 cm long and about 2 cm across the widest part of the handle (RHS of picture).
Would you think your piece is too heavy for a tea strainer?
Too small, Birdy - Gg says it is only 5cm x 3.5cm. It looks purely decorative to me with no obvious fixings other than what could be a broken soldered joint at the lower left on the back. I think it's likely a decorative buckle from a shoe or somesuch but I do think it is probably quite old and has been protected from corrosion by the coating which may be real silver.
Edit: I see you've since noticed the size Good call with the tea strainer handle, or possibly the handle from a tea measuring spoon?
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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GG, take it to your local museum. They will tell you straight away if its historical
The shape and style reminds me that it could be one half of a nurses buckle worn on their belts. They were usually silver or bronze.
Edd - it is not completely smooth one bit rough but not sure if it has warn away, it has got a straight edge
If it has some antique value it is generally better not to clean anything off until you know what you've got, in case you remove too much important material. I know it's too late for that now but I think it still could be worth an professional opinion.
I'm wondering if it could be what I think was called a 'fire-dog' - a removable little metal shelf from Victorian and Edwardian times, that clipped on to the front of the grate of an open fire to rest a kettle or similar vessel on (a) to boil up the water or (b) to keep it hot after it had boiled. It looks a bit 'art nouveau'.
My grandmother had a couple of these which she used in the winter when the fire was lit. I seem to remember they were quite ornate pieces of cast iron. If it is a fire-dog there should be evidence of there having once been another metal casting coming off at right angles from the wide end ( at the bottom of your picture). This would have been the bit that clipped onto the grate and the piece you have would have been the bit the kettle rested on. That's if it is a fire-dog!
My first thought actually was same as Forester2 - the end of a mud scraper - but I now think it is a bit too small for that since you need weight in those tools to stop them moving while the shoe is scraping on it.
As for tea strainer do you mean a bit like this?
Being flat your piece would have to have come from the handle part, but it is surely too big for that. The tea strainer in my photo is about 10 cm long and about 2 cm across the widest part of the handle (RHS of picture).
Would you think your piece is too heavy for a tea strainer?
Too small, Birdy - Gg says it is only 5cm x 3.5cm. It looks purely decorative to me with no obvious fixings other than what could be a broken soldered joint at the lower left on the back. I think it's likely a decorative buckle from a shoe or somesuch but I do think it is probably quite old and has been protected from corrosion by the coating which may be real silver.
Edit: I see you've since noticed the size
Good call with the tea strainer handle, or possibly the handle from a tea measuring spoon?
I think you're right Bob - now I think of it my Grandma's fire dogs were quite hefty pieces.
Gg's piece is the wrong shape and size again for handle tea measuring spoon, I believe.
Maybe a different shaped one - like a tea scoop? There seem to be leaf motifs on it which is why I like your possible tea connection!
Well its all getting quite exciting
- i am intrigued to get this mystery solved!!