SOLD Early Hand-forged Iron Flint (Fire Striker) with Wonderful Form West Virginia artist It is a rare occasion

It is a rare occasion that I buy an old can

More likely I'd think is that they were made for some kind of horse racing game--and I must say that just looking at these makes me think it was a really good one

I also see  its many rooms and platforms as very conducive to the display of lots of little creatures

and then these three small ones

with some small chips and a few minor hairline cracks but structurally very sound and still super looking

SOLD Early Hand-forged Iron Flint (Fire Striker) with Wonderful Form West Virginia artist It is a rare occasionI've had a few old hand forged iron flints over the years, but none as lovely and special as this, with the treatment of the iron very akin to that seen on 17th 18th century scrollwork fireplace tools, and I would guess this is that early. The flat of the bottom, which is the striker, is worn very smooth from use, as I've tried to document. Found it at a shop in the Hudson River Valley. Beautiful object. 3 1 16" x 1 3 16" x 1 4". Aging to the surface