Patently Confounded
This quirky silver telescoping “thing” has been a mystery to a few generations of my family. It belonged to my paternal grandmother’s family, and was passed down in a box of heirlooms to my parents. They had no idea what it was, and while they got rid of a number of items in the box, I suspect this one survived the purge simply because it was small and quirky. There has been much speculation about its purpose.
The only markings on the piece state “patent approved” which are remarkably unhelpful. The silver is beautifully worked, and the “wand” telescopes to extend in length. While polishing it the other day, I discovered the end piece actually twists off, revealing a small hook on the bottom. Mind you, the entire mechanism is done in silver, including the twisting screw parts and bottom loop. But the why of the loop only adds to the mystery. The other thing of note is the “prongs” are wrapped in leather and are the only part of the piece done in smooth silver, not highly worked with design.
So, any ideas? My parents thought it was for holding opera glasses but I don’t get that vibe. The glasses would have been more valuable and no such item survived. (See my blog about the 14k reading glasses from the same family!) Knowing it came from my very blue-blooded great grandfather Benjamin Strong, I wonder if it was designed for some type of voting. Possibly to use during a large meeting? “Aye” and “Nay” cards slipped onto the end and waved in the air at the appropriate moment? Another thought would be for using it to signal interest during an auction, extending the wand to catch the eye of the auctioneer? But why the leather? And the odd internal hook? And yes, I used Google image search and it too was stumped.
Why anyone would need a sterling silver telescoping wand is beyond me. But, then again, the entire thing is beyond me. I know from my NZ cousin that his family still has a sterling flatware set specifically for eating fruit, a Tiffany’s Deco sterling smoking set and a solid sterling jewelry box (among many other items) all from the same great grandfather’s family. So I am guessing having a fancy telescoping wand to vote or bid at auction may not have seemed unusual in his well off days in New York City in the 1920s. Anyone who can solve the mystery will receive absolutely nothing but my undying gratitude!