I've seen hundreds of carved bone/ivory needle case caps, and NONE have
openings in/through them. Like Nick, it looks very similar to some
(bone) scapel collets I have seen, but if ceramic (as opined by Dessa,
who is likely correct), then that is unlikely (never seen a scapel
collet made of ceramic, which material would not be suitable due to
being brittle and difficult to make proper fitment).
In any case (whether bone or ceramic) it was clearly made to fit (like a
stopper) into a tapered hole (like a bottle neck) and the concentric
grooves likely being wound with thread/string/cord to serve as a seal.
The slit (that runs entirely through the object and indicates that a
substance contained within the container 'bottle,' in which it was
inserted, was intended to be conveyed to the outside through this 'slit'
opening) appears to be shaped to receive a ribbon wick (the sooting
around this slit would seem to support this interpretation).
Also, the suggested medical/laboratory context infers that this is most
likely the stopper/burner for a so-called 'spirit lamp' [aka alcohol
burner] which was /de rigueur/ equipment in every laboratory, not to
mention every reputable/knowledgeable physician owned one [used for
sterilizing hypodermic needles, as well as scapel blades].
Spirit lamps (of various designs, most of the earlier designs with round
cotton wicks, rather than flat/ribbon wicks like this one would have
used) exist in a dizzying variety.
Here is a reference (from 1838) that speaks to the details of types in
common use at that time:
https://books.google.com/books?id=xRQ5AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA17&dq=#v=onepage&q&f=false
On 10/31/2018 9:20 AM, Janet Lloyd wrote:
> I was thinking needle holder, to. Have seen bone and wooden ones.
>
> On Wed, Oct 31, 2018, 12:46 AM Megan E. Springate <[log in to unmask]
> wrote:
>
>> Is it possibly the end of a needle holder?
>>
>> Megan
>>
>> On Mon, Oct 29, 2018 at 1:24 PM Alexander Wayne Anthony <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>>
>>> I could use some help identifying an artifact. It was recovered from a
>>> Midwestern site dating from the late 18th to early 19th -century. It is
>>> currently assumed to have originated from a medical facility of some
>> sort,
>>> maybe a laboratory. It is made of bone and the hole goes all the way
>>> through. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated!
>>>
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Alex
>>>
>>>
>> https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fmvcr5uwwbrute5/AAAoAwIBfdqIIX2qwIDVk-Tha?dl=0
>>> [
>>>
>> https://www.dropbox.com/static/images/spectrum-icons/generated/content/content-folder_dropbox-large.png
>>> ]<
>>>
>> https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fmvcr5uwwbrute5/AAAoAwIBfdqIIX2qwIDVk-Tha?dl=0>
>>> Artifact Photos<
>>>
>> https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fmvcr5uwwbrute5/AAAoAwIBfdqIIX2qwIDVk-Tha?dl=0>
>>> www.dropbox.com
>>> Shared with Dropbox
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>>
>>> Alexander W. Anthony
>>> MS Student | Anthropology
>>> Teaching Assistant ANTH 281 & 285
>>> Field Notes: A Journal of Collegiate Anthropology Editor
>>> University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
>>> https://uwm.academia.edu/AlexanderWAnthony
>>>
>>> pronouns: he/him/his
>>>
>>> <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alexander_Anthony>
>>>
>>>
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