The Filson Historical Society Blog

I recently encountered this mysterious item in The Filson’s manuscript collection and was utterly stumped as to what it could be.  This beguiling manuscript serves a specific function and was deliberately created.  Without reading the text of the manuscript, do you have any idea what the function of this item may be?  Why is the parchment oddly shaped?

The first person to give the correct answer will win an item from the Filson’s bookstore.

Good luck!

The first mystery item – our portrait of James Wilkinson by John Wesley Jarvis – was easy. That was a warm up. Now they get tougher.

The item pictured here was commonly found in households well into the 20th century – and some are most likely still used today. This item is 11.5″ long and 5″ wide (tappering to 1.5″). It rises at approximately a 30 degree angle from tail to head to a height of 3″. What is it?

The first correct answer submitted will win a copy of Raymond Meyers’ The Zollie Tree. The answer will be posted at the end of the month.