Looks like folks have the insulators covered. As for your metal lid, I would suggest either a compact, or a small kind of purse that was popular at the turn of the century called a Tam-- O-Shanter. Here's a webiste that illustrates an example: http://www.rubylane.com/item/321012-9147A80/Victorian-Tam-Ox92Shanter-Coin-Purse Sara Rivers Cofield Curator of Federal Collections Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory --- On Thu, 8/19/10, Patrick Tucker <[log in to unmask]> wrote: From: Patrick Tucker <[log in to unmask]> Subject: FW: Help with Identification of Artifacts To: [log in to unmask] Date: Thursday, August 19, 2010, 9:39 AM I have two artifacts that I need help with identification of their functional use. Both come from a residential lot on a street in Maumee City, Ohio. Other ceramic manufacturers' marks and the property records suggest an occupation date of circa 1885-1927. The house on the lot was originally built in 1887 as a wood-frame structure, and later remodeled. The first is ceramic with manufacturer's mark "A.P. Co" I don't believe this to be American Pottery Company, Trenton, NJ, but I may be wrong. It is tube-like with a large diameter hole running through it. Could this be part of a ceramic insulator for electrical wiring? http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r230/Pat_Tucker/Box%20Site/100_7119.jpg http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r230/Pat_Tucker/Box%20Site/100_7121.jpg http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r230/Pat_Tucker/Box%20Site/100_7124c.jpg http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r230/Pat_Tucker/Box%20Site/100_7123.jpg The other artifact is a circular, hinged metal lid (silver or nickel-plated brass) with an engraved floral design (four-leaf clover?) on the exterior. Profile is convex (exterior)/concave (interior). Looks too small to be a jewelry or ring box, and too large to be a pocket watch case. Possible snuff-box, or too late for this type of artifact? http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r230/Pat_Tucker/Box%20Site/100_7148.jpg http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r230/Pat_Tucker/Box%20Site/100_7149.jpg Pat Tucker Swanton, Ohio, USA