I had basically ignored the two small brass turtles on a tray in the jewelry case. Instead, I had asked the auctioneer to pull out trays with more interesting-looking items.
The three glass shelves (and tables elsewhere) were dotted with figural turtle, all no doubt the remnants of someone’s collection. My sister collects turtles as part of the Turtle Club, which I was unfamiliar with. Maybe this person was a member, too.
The auctioneer pointed to the two turtles. Know what they are? he asked. I didn’t offer the smart answer of “turtles,” because I was pretty sure they were more than that, since he was asking. Instead, I told him that I wasn’t sure what they were. He removed the tray, sat it on the counter and I read the inscription a little more closely on one of them: “Pull my head but not my leg.”
The head appeared to be fixed on the body, so I just stood there, still baffled. Then the auctioneer told me what the turtle was and demonstrated its function. Neat, I thought. Another tray held a turtle with an engraving of the Mayflower on its back. I love items of this sort and usually try to buy them when I can.
These turtles were rather unique and I figured that others at the auction would find them as interesting as me. I sat through table after table of auction items before the turtles finally came up for bids. As usual, the auctioneer started with a high asking price, dropped low and then someone took the bid. It was back and forth among several bidders. I didn’t get a chance to even step into the bidding because it was going too fast and too high.
By the time the bidding ended, the turtles sold for $90 (I don’t remember if it was for both or individually). Apparently, other auction-goers knew what they were and what they were worth.
Later, I found them for sale on the web for $85-$90 each, even more if they were silver. The brass ones sold for less than $100 on eBay, and a silver one for slightly more.
Can you guess what they were used for? Share your guesses in the Comments box below and then click on the top photo to find the answer.
Ashtray? Pill box?
Sewing needle box? Snuff box?