Topic: What is it , please.

[mrs vulture]

Hello,    I found this on the car boot yesterday, the seller said it was a 1950's art deco letter rack!!!! I some how don't think so. Its 8 inches long (20 cms) and 2 inches tall (5 cms) 3 and a half inches wide (9cms). It is very solid and heavy. with a sort of woodgrained effect. None of us can guess what it is, any ideas anyone. I only bought it because we couldn't work out what it is and it was cheap.    Thanks Cheryl

[bablo]

Hi Cheryl,

Sellers these days will always tell you it's Art Deco, just because it sells better that way. And it's often hard to proove that it's NOT Art Deco

I'm not sure what this thing was made for, but it could very well be something like a base frame, a pedestal to hold either a glass plate or a wooden board in the middle slot. Is the groove something like 5-6 milimeters (0.20-0.25 inch) in width? I could imagine a small tiffany or leaded glass window fitting in nicely.

regards
\bablo

[Leni]

I think it's a very basic frame for holding photos.  I used to have something like it in wood. Two sheets of glass with two photo's back to back between them are slipped in the slot and you have a reversible photo frame.   

[glassobsessed]

Quite big for a photo frame, how about a pavement light?

John

[Leni]

Haha  :24: Teach me to read the measurements before I reply! :pb:

[glassobsessed]

It could be Leni, 8 inches is/was a standard photographic paper size in this country (I think), either 5x8 or 10x8.

John

[Ivo]

always frisk the delegates after the conference!  :wsh:

[mrs vulture]

The groove is 1cm across the bottom and 1.5cm deep.    I do know what you mean by the photo frames with the two sheets of glass holding the photos, we have some wooden 1930,s ones in the living room. They have sides to hold  the photo in.  Cheryl.

[Paul S.]

sorry to seem thick, but I don't see that anywhere a comment about what material this is  -  is it metal (might it be zinc)  -  also it does seem to have possibly the remains of a residue on the surface.   Would agree tho that a picture frame is a possible candidate  -  they were made commonly with a base like this, although in wood, usually.   How about a 'stand' for some sort of advertising material.

[mrs vulture]

HI, Its made of glass!!!!      Just one solid lump, no metal , no wood, just glass. A few air bubbles in it and some straw marks.   Cheryl