Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

French Antique Guessing Game

image from https://s3.amazonaws.com/feather-client-files-aviary-prod-us-east-1/2016-05-25/64be9e5be4ea445b901eb8829c5fa205.png

 

Every now and then I come across an antique at the brocante that I do not know what it is. During the French Muse Experience I came across this piece and was stumped.

 

Do you know what it is, what it is used for? If so write it in the comment section, or if you do not know what it is make up a response in the comment section. The first one to guess correctly will receive a gift as well as the most creative response.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

image from https://s3.amazonaws.com/feather-client-files-aviary-prod-us-east-1/2016-05-25/6482dab2d18141989250c04c9c802a69.png

 

It is hand made. Solid iron with a wooden handle. Early 1800s, French.

 

 

image from https://s3.amazonaws.com/feather-client-files-aviary-prod-us-east-1/2016-05-25/38f90fb322994438b90f193ca88098b8.png

 

As you can see it isn't very big, but I am holding it with all my might.

 

 

  

 

 

Good Luck.

Comments

38 responses to “French Antique Guessing Game”

  1. Kipper

    A woodworking tool, maybe used to make barrel staves?

    Reply
  2. Janet Eiffel

    Looks like something my brother used
    to peel logs when he worked
    in the timber industry.
    But, it also looks like it could be used
    to make furrows for planting.

    Reply
  3. Laura Johnston

    It’s an adz – a very nice one – but it looks like it needs a sharpening.

    Reply
  4. Toni

    Since I think it is already identified, my imaginative response is that it is the tool that is used to align those gorgeous roof tiles. This tool fits under where two tiles are side by side and you push them in the same depth on the roof (working from a higher vantage point). 🙂

    Reply
  5. Sue Young

    A wood shaving tool

    Reply
  6. Kathie

    A trowel for making holes in the soil to plant flower bulbs (or to transplant seedlings).

    Reply
  7. Jacklynn Lantry

    I think it looks like a cobblers hammer (like a shoemaker.) The curvy part is used to work the leather for a pair of shoes.

    Reply
  8. Diogenes

    A neolithic razor for shaving?

    Reply
  9. Carroll

    Hmm, it looks just like a tool I saw some African women use to mix their clay for making house bricks, I believe, or wall construction of some type. They swung then down into their piles of earth quite vigorously!

    Reply
  10. Sharon Nicholes

    It is an adze woodworking tool, used to hew beams. It is fantastic!.

    Reply
  11. WR

    It’s an adze used to shape large pieces of wood. Sharon beat me to it!

    Reply
  12. WR

    …also used at the brocante to nab something before someone else can get to it. Watch those fingers!

    Reply
  13. Shannon

    An Adze!
    But I think it was used for cutting old bread. 😉

    Reply
  14. Lynette

    The tool is a French bowl adzes. Used for carving out bowls or a chair maker to scoop out chair seats.

    Reply
  15. Irene Thomas

    Of course, this tool tans hides.

    Reply
  16. Shelby

    An adze for hollowing out wooden bread bowls.

    Reply
  17. Taste of France

    Well, so many have answered, all I will say is I wonder how many fingers were lost in the pursuit of wooden bowls or beams!

    Reply
  18. Our French Oasis

    Thank you, I have learnt something new this morning and looking at the photos again now I can see quite clearly how it would work. Fascinating tool. Did you buy it?

    Reply
  19. Jacklynn Lantry

    Oh yes, it’s the adz thingy. I love this game! I learn the most interesting things. Jeopardy watch out!

    Reply
  20. Karen in Bucks County

    I think it’s an adz-used to hollow out logs for making a canoe/barge/boat.

    Reply
  21. RebeccaNYC

    It really does look like an adz, but I have never seen an adz with such a short handle! Looks like what ever you are carving out might get stuck in your fingers. Normally your hand is much farther away from the head, right? Or maybe the handle has been shortened? hmmmm….. Perhaps it is a hand weight to use during a PureBarre class?

    Reply
  22. Robin

    Oh! that’s easy – it is used to bend metal railings for spiral staircases! I would use it in my garden to hold the dirt back when planting bulbs.

    Reply
  23. Jen

    Oh wow. No idea. I would have guessed something to do with horse shoes. I love how antiques give us a window into another time.

    Reply
  24. MaryD

    That is an adze. Used for chopping channels in wood like for a gutter. Small ones are used to rough out bowls. Also used in ship building to rough out timbers.

    Reply
  25. Melanie

    Laura,
    That is what I was thinking too. I think they used them to hollow out wood bowls and chair seats.
    Pretty heavy tool!
    Melanie

    Reply
  26. Orama

    Tire Hammer

    Reply
  27. Jennie

    I think it is a tool for removing horse shoes.

    Reply
  28. Sue J.

    used in a vineyard to remove vines and grape plants.

    Reply
  29. Marco Polo

    Gothic cathedral medieval door knocker?

    Reply
  30. Franca Bollo

    Look who’s baaaaaaack …

    Reply
  31. Alicia

    It is for taking the hair off a hide of an animal so it can be tanned -I think

    Reply
  32. Alicia

    On second thought – it’s the tool I should take with me when I go shopping with my sister to keep her from getting all the good stuff at the brocante!!

    Reply
  33. Tongue in Cheek

    Hey Welcome Brother!

    Reply
  34. Tongue in Cheek

    The two peas in a pod! And you did not say anything about Roaches…. Diogenes and Rebecca are going to be so disappointed.

    Reply
  35. Tongue in Cheek

    lol

    Reply
  36. Franca Bollo

    No roach clip this time but I will say adz/adze are very useful Scrabble words.
    Saw your mother at the store yesterday. <3

    Reply
  37. Pam

    It is a coopers adze…. Used for making barrels.

    Reply
  38. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    I’ve been gone for so long!!! But here I am back again too…
    Silly people, of course this isn’t a roach clip.
    It’s an ashtray with a handle. (You photographed it upside down, you see.) To carry around with you as you walk around. With your roach…
    (Welcome back, Franca Bollo! And who’s Orama?)

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions