The number of talented and perceptive people found on the internet is staggering. Take the sprawling ‘What Is This Thing?’ online community, for example. It is filled to the brim with experts and sleuths who help people identify mysterious objects.
Today, we’re featuring puzzling and bizarre antiques that confused people to no end, only for brilliant online detectives to help them out with their niche knowledge. Keep scrolling for a crash course in weird object functionality, and to learn something new so you can show off the next time you’re at an antique store.
#1 Found This Small Kettle Years Ago. Tried Searching For A Similar One, But Have Always Come Up With Nothing. Anybody Have An Idea Why This Has This Unique Shape?
Brokella:
Isn’t that a portable men’s urinal for bedbound patients?
Isn’t that a portable men’s urinal for bedbound patients?
Report
115points
#2 My Inner Child Needs To Know. Green & White Pendant Of Some Sort Found In My Stocking 18 Years Ago
What is this thing? My inner child needs to know.
Long story short, I found this in my Christmas stocking when I was 7-8 years old. No one knew where it came from. There would be periods of time throughout my childhood where it would disappear, then reappear months or even years later. It was always a fun childhood mystery to me. I have not seen it since 2013 until today. Part of me wants to keep the magic alive and believe it’s some magical stone with disappearing abilities, but I’ve wanted to know what this thing is for almost 20 years now. It looks like some kind of jewelry pendant, but I’m not sure how it would work. The hole in the third picture doesn’t go all the way through.
phord:
It's a jadeite pendant with a space to hold herbs or sandalwood. The word on the back is "fu", which means "luck". The dragon heads are just common Chinese symbolism, but sometimes there is a bat instead because the word for "bat" sounds like 'luck". If it has bamboo symbolism, it's supposed to be stronger. It's usually strung and attached to your belt and carried for luck.
My Chinese wife, who also claims this is not a well made piece, poor quality sculpting, common in antique markets.
She also warns that Chinese people do not carry old pieces with an unknown history, because they might have belonged to someone who died, and then it was stolen by grave robbers. And then the amulet could bring bad luck.
But if the piece is handed down from their family, someone they know and cared about, it becomes more special to them. They believe it carries a bit of the bearer in it, like part of their soul, from their having carried it for so long.
Wife says it comes back to you because it has become part of you. You should keep it, no matter how much you are offered. Also, you should touch it a lot so it accumulates oil from your skin (your soul). This will make it more beautiful.
Long story short, I found this in my Christmas stocking when I was 7-8 years old. No one knew where it came from. There would be periods of time throughout my childhood where it would disappear, then reappear months or even years later. It was always a fun childhood mystery to me. I have not seen it since 2013 until today. Part of me wants to keep the magic alive and believe it’s some magical stone with disappearing abilities, but I’ve wanted to know what this thing is for almost 20 years now. It looks like some kind of jewelry pendant, but I’m not sure how it would work. The hole in the third picture doesn’t go all the way through.
phord:
It's a jadeite pendant with a space to hold herbs or sandalwood. The word on the back is "fu", which means "luck". The dragon heads are just common Chinese symbolism, but sometimes there is a bat instead because the word for "bat" sounds like 'luck". If it has bamboo symbolism, it's supposed to be stronger. It's usually strung and attached to your belt and carried for luck.
My Chinese wife, who also claims this is not a well made piece, poor quality sculpting, common in antique markets.
She also warns that Chinese people do not carry old pieces with an unknown history, because they might have belonged to someone who died, and then it was stolen by grave robbers. And then the amulet could bring bad luck.
But if the piece is handed down from their family, someone they know and cared about, it becomes more special to them. They believe it carries a bit of the bearer in it, like part of their soul, from their having carried it for so long.
Wife says it comes back to you because it has become part of you. You should keep it, no matter how much you are offered. Also, you should touch it a lot so it accumulates oil from your skin (your soul). This will make it more beautiful.
Report
105points
#3 What Is This? Was Labeled As A Xylophone? Bought For $9 At An Antique Store
Mudslingshot:
Nine dollars for a tongue drum the size of an end table?! I'm an instrument collector, and I've gotten some goooood deals... But wow. I've never gotten a deal that good.
Nine dollars for a tongue drum the size of an end table?! I'm an instrument collector, and I've gotten some goooood deals... But wow. I've never gotten a deal that good.
Report
100points
Good instincts, environmental awareness, solid judgment, lots of curiosity, and plenty of life experience can give you a solid foundation for internet sleuthing. But if you want to be an actual detective or investigator, you need a wide skillset to complement your wise gut.
According to National Private Investigators, PIs need to have strong analytical, research, problem-solving, internet, and communication skills.
#4 Spoon Type Thing With A Metal Plate And Hole?
My husband and I went thrift shopping and found this weird sterling silver spoon but we have no idea what it’s used for? Looked up the brand “reed and Barton” and found that it’s an old sterling silver company but couldn’t find a spoon like this anywhere. Anyone know what it is or what it’s used for?
TeeBeeDub:
That! Is a soup spoon for mustachioed gentlemen.
TeeBeeDub:
That! Is a soup spoon for mustachioed gentlemen.
Report
97points
#5 I Inherited This From My Grandpa. It Probably Belonged To My Great Grandpa. It Came With A Vintage How To Sketch Book
cynikalAhole99:
Precision vintage drafting tools.
Precision vintage drafting tools.
Report
93points
#6 Found In My Grandfathers Garage, They Appear To Be Hand Stamped
Purrsy_Nappington
These are the work of Kawase Hasui.
The one on the left is titled, "Kasuga Shrine in Nara." 1933
The one on the right is, "Snow at Hie Shrine (New Years Day)." 1931.
These are the work of Kawase Hasui.
The one on the left is titled, "Kasuga Shrine in Nara." 1933
The one on the right is, "Snow at Hie Shrine (New Years Day)." 1931.
Report
93points
With so much investigative work taking place digitally, you need to be great at using the internet to get the information you need. That means looking through public records, social media networks, specialized databases, financial records, etc. On top of that, good tech skills are a must, as you’ll have to gather and analyze evidence and use software.
Private investigators should also have integrity and know how to be discreet. A large chunk of their work deals with sensitive matters, so you have to be ethical and objective. Your reputation (and by extension your livelihood) depends on it.
#7 Found At Antique Festival Near Atlanta, Is 17" By 5.5"
nitro479:
It's for rolling newspapers into a "log" for the fireplace.
It's for rolling newspapers into a "log" for the fireplace.
Report
90points
#8 Found This Cast Iron Coffin In A Closed Funeral Home. I Have Ideas On What It Is, But Want To Be Absolutely Sure
FreedomDragon01:
I would guess it’s a version of the Fiske coffin. These coffins were designed after the advent of major railway transportation and offered airtight coffins. This helped to naturally preserve the body. When people began traveling far from families and then subsequently dying, people needed a way to transport bodies long distances to get them back for the funeral and last goodbyes from living relatives.
The window was put in place for health reasons. Should a person have died while in quarantine or from a deadly disease, the window allowed relatives to see and confirm the body's identity before burial.
I would guess it’s a version of the Fiske coffin. These coffins were designed after the advent of major railway transportation and offered airtight coffins. This helped to naturally preserve the body. When people began traveling far from families and then subsequently dying, people needed a way to transport bodies long distances to get them back for the funeral and last goodbyes from living relatives.
The window was put in place for health reasons. Should a person have died while in quarantine or from a deadly disease, the window allowed relatives to see and confirm the body's identity before burial.
Report
86points
#9 I Found This Ring In My Backyard While Doing Gardening. After Cleaning It, It Doesn't Look Like A Normal Ring. Any Ideas?
batbrat:
It's a Georgian/early Victorian mourning ring. The initials belong to the lost loved one.
They were typically made from gold (18k+) and enameled in black. Yours looks like it was made around the 1820s-40s.
It's a Georgian/early Victorian mourning ring. The initials belong to the lost loved one.
They were typically made from gold (18k+) and enameled in black. Yours looks like it was made around the 1820s-40s.
Report
84points
The “What Is This Thing?” online group is a legendary subreddit. It was created all the way back in 2010, and over the past 15 years, amateur and professional internet sleuths have been helping identify people’s mystery items nonstop. Currently, a jaw-dropping 1.5 million internet users visit the online group every single week, with 6.4k weekly contributions.
We’d like to hear from you now, Pandas. Which of these peculiar antiques piqued your curiosity? Were there any strange objects that you could actually identify? What is the weirdest item that you’ve ever stumbled across in your life? Let us know what you think.
#10 The End Appears To Be Rabbit Hair And The Handle Is Like A Marbled Bakelite Or Maybe Plastic?
Nanerpus_is_my_Homie:
It’s a powder puff wand for face powder. This is a very nice example! Also called a “patter wand”. The idea was popping/beating the powder on your face has a more finished look than using your hand.
It’s a powder puff wand for face powder. This is a very nice example! Also called a “patter wand”. The idea was popping/beating the powder on your face has a more finished look than using your hand.
Report
83points
#11 Found This Hidden In The Ceiling Of My Basement With A Bunch Of Others. Made Out Of Glass, Appears To Have Some Sort Of Tape Or Paper Border Around It
-_-BaDgEr-_- :
Nice find! Magic Lantern glass slide.
Nice find! Magic Lantern glass slide.
Report
80points
#12 Expandable Metal Circle With Chain And Lid. This Top Comes Off But Is Attached With A Hinge. When The Top Is Off It Can Expand
It says it's from Germany. It belonged to an antique shop owner who didn't know what it was.
SilverScimitar13:
It's the top of an expandable purse, yours is just missing the actual fabric purse part.
SilverScimitar13:
It's the top of an expandable purse, yours is just missing the actual fabric purse part.
Report
80points
#13 Old Leather Boot With Long Metal Spikes. Leather Is Old And Stiff, Sole Is Wood, Metal With Nails Or Rivets Around The Sole, 4” Spikes. Seems Like It Might Be A Mountaineering Boot
DoctorOfMeat:
They're for crushing chestnuts.
They're for crushing chestnuts.
Report
77points
#14 Open Spoon With Spikes; Trident-Like Fork; Tongs With A Chicken Foot And A Perforated Spoon. All Antique Silver
AnnabananaIL:
Olive server, lettuce server, ice tongs. Having a talon on ice tongs is a novelty feature, but there are a lot of them out there!
Olive server, lettuce server, ice tongs. Having a talon on ice tongs is a novelty feature, but there are a lot of them out there!
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73points
#15 Found In The Yard Of My Old House. Agra, India
My father sent a few samples to the Archaeological Survey of India in Agra, as suggested by many, so thank you. Those of you who said they are Terracotta figures, you were correct. They are Portuguese Terracotta figures from the 3rd to 4th century. Though there haven’t been many accounts of such well-preserved Terracottas, they’re not uncommon for the area of Agra, as the Taj Mahal features many Terracotta designs and mouldings. I can’t believe I thought these figurines were nothing of value, and considered throwing them away. Thank you all again for urging me not to throw these away, notifying me about ASI, and warning me about scammers. For now, my family plans on keeping the figures in a safe place.
72points
#16 Found In The Basement Of German House That Was Built Shortly Before World War II
ImclearlyBatman:
Mortar and pestle. A very old one, too.
Mortar and pestle. A very old one, too.
Report
71points
#17 Cleaning Out A House And Came Across This. The Little Cup At The Top Swings Back And Forth. Says It’s From Japan
Real_Consequence1240:
It’s a bridal cup. Bridal cups are a Nuerenberg, Germany tradition that date back to the 1400's. It represents the start of a life long union between man and woman and is a symbol of faithfulness and good luck.
The small swiveling cup and inverted hollow dress were designed to allow both bride and groom to drink simultaneously to toast their wedding. The groom would drink from the larger cup (the inverted skirt), and bride would drink from the small swivel cup.
It’s a bridal cup. Bridal cups are a Nuerenberg, Germany tradition that date back to the 1400's. It represents the start of a life long union between man and woman and is a symbol of faithfulness and good luck.
The small swiveling cup and inverted hollow dress were designed to allow both bride and groom to drink simultaneously to toast their wedding. The groom would drink from the larger cup (the inverted skirt), and bride would drink from the small swivel cup.
Report
71points
#18 Found In A Demolition Along With Old Money. They Appear To Made From Some Sort Of Fabric
sonjaalb:
These are German emergency bills that were issued in times when there wasn't enough money available at the central bank. I believe the ones you have may be made of silk or linen.
These are German emergency bills that were issued in times when there wasn't enough money available at the central bank. I believe the ones you have may be made of silk or linen.
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70points
#19 Miniature Antique Mini Glass Ball Things? The B***s Are Hollow And Delicate With Little Tips/Ends. Each One Is Numbered On The Top
SincerelySpicy:
They're called Hydrostatic Bubbles or Spirit Bubbles, among other things, and they're used as hydrometers for testing the alcohol content of liquors.
They're called Hydrostatic Bubbles or Spirit Bubbles, among other things, and they're used as hydrometers for testing the alcohol content of liquors.
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65points
#20 Made Of Wood. Too Shallow To Store Pens. Hangs On Wall
DaddioHeff:
It is for a large box of matches.
It is for a large box of matches.
Report
64points