Advertisement
Boards are fundraising to help the people of Ukraine via the Red Cross at this horrific time. Please donate and share if you can, you will find the link here. Many thanks.

Question about an antique item seen in Powerscourt

  • 24-06-2021 12:26pm
    #1
    100gSoma
    Registered Users Posts: 1,260 ✭✭✭ 100gSoma


    I'm really hoping someone will know what this is? It looks like a decorative knob protruding from an old wall over a small bench. What is it was it used for?
    It looks like it slopes down so doesn't appear to be a bucket hang or similar.
    It's located in powerscourt house gardens on the outside wall of an old church.

    Any ideas? Anyone seen similar? I guess its 1750-1900 timeframe?

    PXL-20210612-133521911-MP-picsay.jpg
    PXL-20210612-133540669-picsay.jpg


    https://ibb.co/HpWYZ8Z
    https://ibb.co/zN3tzqK


Comments

  • #2
    Gloomtastic!
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 7,048 Mod ✭✭✭✭ Gloomtastic!


    Interesting! Looks to me like some sort of prop to get up off the seat. Or as a step to help you mount a horse.


  • #3
    100gSoma
    Registered Users Posts: 1,260 ✭✭✭ 100gSoma


    I heard back from the head gardener. It's a courting bench. And the metal part originally extended down as a partition to act as a 'chaperone'. Interesting. How times have changed.


  • #4
    Diddley Squat
    Registered Users Posts: 335 ✭✭ Diddley Squat


    It looks to be late 18th/early 19th century in date, with that Neo-classical decoration.

    The plate is bronze, is the knob iron ? odd looking, probably salvaged from something and made into a support handle at a later date.

    Surprised it hasnt been pinched. Quality bit of casting



Advertisement