A Quick Quiz- New Question

[Wayland]

We've just come back from a research trip to Copenhagen.

These are something we saw in a great museum there.

No prizes to win, but just wondering if anyone can work out what they are used for.

I'll give a fresh clue each day if it takes long enough.

 

[GGTBod]

Honey drizzlers

 

[Jared]

With the taper and ridges, looks like a plug for something... ?

 

[crosslandkelly]

Hobo fishing lines?

 

[Goatboy]

Spigots for a drink barrel?

Sent via smoke-signal from a woodland in Scotland.

 

[Wayland]

Some good guesses there.

One of of you is on the right track but I wonder if anyone can be more specific.

 

[Mesquite]

With the taper and ridges, looks like a plug for something... ?

That's what I thought until I saw the ridges going the other way.

So I'll guess they were used for winding thread or wool on?

 

[bopdude]

Spindles to hold twine or other for making fishing nets ?

 

[Tomteifi]

Barrel taps....

 

[Macaroon]

Pegs to hold cordage for marking out area, i.e. measuring plots of ground, lengths of buildings, ships etc.?

 

[bilmo-p5]

I'm with Mac & Bopdude; are they bobbins for making those fancy borders & ribbons?

 

[DogRose]

They look like stoppers to me, maybe a bit long for a flask though. Birch taps/stoppers?

 

[John Fenna]

Boat bungs.....

 

[Adze]

That's what I thought until I saw the ridges going the other way.

So I'll guess they were used for winding thread or wool on?

+1 - they look like they're designed to hold something on the 'reel' rather than to stopper something up. Are they bobbins?

 

[John Fenna]

Distaffs?.......

 

[pentrekeeper]

Wayland is being mean by not giving us a sense of scale, meany.

The opposing grooves would suggest that something is wrapped around, the grooves providing secure binding so the fur, leather or whatever is wrapped can not move and is held securely.

The two are of different size, one having 4 grooves and one 6 grooves but the space between the grooves looks to be very similar to both, which suggests the middle part is the active bit.

The carved heads don't look like handles as such and look uncomfortable to grip and don't suggest a rotary motion in use.

As for purpose I have no idea, could be children's toys, or indeed stoppers of some kind as the material could be wrapped to give any diameter, maybe for water bottles.

 

[Mesquite]

Wayland is being mean by not giving us a sense of scale, meany.

I dunno... looking at the picture and going on the size of the supports I'd say the scale is about full size or maybe a fraction enlarged

 

[Goatboy]

Are they the tuning pegs from a stringed instrument like a lute/guitar/violin?

Sent via smoke-signal from a woodland in Scotland.

 

[Rustee]

The carved face on the end makes me think of a tribal mask.
Something tribal that might be blessed with spiritual power to be used for gathering or hunting yet designed to hold something secure....

 

[Wayland]

The scale is about right on my screen. There is a slight curve to them which is difficult to see from the angle I've shot them from. That's one of the limitations of shooting through glass cases.

They were in the Ethnographic collection rather than the Archaeology if that helps any.

In this area as a matter of fact.