No 32 A couple of unique legs!!

Quite clearly the number of additions to my leg collection is not keeping pace with the number I have covered so far in 31 posts. I have discussed 105 different legs, with 54 yet to reveal, and half of those are pipe tampers.

Today I’ve chosen a selection of 4 legs two of which are a bit special.

 

Let’s start with a Pipe Tamper. As you can see, this is a bit different.

                              

The golden coloured material was said to be marine bone and it has a huge amount of carving. It is a right leg, evidenced by the boot lace holes being on the right and the hatching round the upper leg is a good replica of a garter. It is late 19^th century and was purchased at an NEC fair in November 2015. The top of the hat is well hatched, confirmation that it is a Pipe Tamper.

What makes this special is that not only does the hat look like a Yeoman Warders ceremonial hat, but the head looks both ways!!! It has a double head.

It’s beautifully carved a highlight in my collection.

 

And now for something completely different – probably at first thought to look naff!

                                    

This is a Vesta, a closable container for holding matches, in the shape of a footballer’s leg complete with shin guard!! It looks exactly like tin, but I suspect that is true but with a silver plating. It does have a number of engravings.

The cap has the letters P and M in script, something that would not normally be done on tin.

One side of the cap (upper leg) is inscribed “ C & M”

The other side has  the raised word PATENT.

The whole leg is very light, with the sole scored to create a strike surface to light a match. There has been a great deal of work in making the boot look genuine, with lace holes, a tongue at the back, and a strap.. all in small scale.

This one came in 2017 from the NEC, the datelining rules making it an antique, as did the price!! Another enigma.

 

To complete this Post, I have 2 identical legs… but not quite!!

 

These are a pair of identical pocket penknives, with indicating that they have been made by the same company.  The blades are encased in Mother-of-Pearl, with a loop to hang on a keyring or whatever.

They each have 2 hinged blades, the first a small, pointed blade, and the second is double sided with rough surfaces for nail filing.  

The 2 were bought 9 years apart, the first in 2010 at a Heanor antique centre, and engraved “Glamour Girl Stockings”. The other was purchased in 2019 in Uttoxeter, engraved “Nu-Weave Knitwear”.

Carrying an advertisement, these nail files would have been given away to publicise the businesses.

 

A nice collection for this post.