Hi Tabitha

Edward Lovett was a folklorist and collector living, I think, in Sussex, early 20^th c. – he gave/sold huge amounts of his collectons to National Museum Wales around 1912 – 1920s – including tally sticks dolls of the world ( he wrote a booklet), samplers, toys etc etc – he also wrote loads of letters to the then director, which are fascinating.

Cheers

Christine

From: Social History Curators Group email list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Cadbury, Tabitha (COMMUNITY SERVICES)
Sent: 13 January 2011 11:26
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [SHCG-LIST] FW: paperweight with brass fist

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The only thing I would add is that late C19th/early C20th folklorists tended to see the clenched fist holding a straight object motif as a phallic symbol. I have just found a reference to this effect in an Edward Lovett letter (who was Lovett? See http://england.prm.ox.ac.uk/englishness-Edward-Lovett.html). However those chaps had a tendency to see very many things as phallic symbols. I have my doubts as to whether the people using the motifs see them in that way.

Tabitha

From: Social History Curators Group email list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Adam Bell
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2011 12:24 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [SHCG-LIST] FW: paperweight with brass fist

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I've had a member of the public ask if I can tell him anything about this item (images attached).

He said in his email to me, "please find attached photos of the said paperweight. It has dimensions of 10 cm across and 6.5 cm high. The clenched fist holding a rod is made of brass and the base is of ornate cast iron."

He'd like to know if it is indeed a paperweight, and if anything can be said about it, such as rough date etc. I couldn't quite say myself.

Thanks

Adam

Adam Bell

Assistant Keeper

History

Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums

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