brass stand

[kath]

Hi a friend came accross this with his metal detector .
I think its a teapot stand.
Accross the center is 1889
markings on the back are v (something)m
The something looks like a snake but could be a 1 or a l ..
thanks

[kath]

I forgot to say i was looking to see if this was the makers mark thanks

[Les Beyer]

I believe the "vm" stands for Virginia Metalcrafters... which just went out of business in the past year or two.
I went looking for more about the "snake" mark, or the significance of 1889 but could only find the following.


"Virginia Metalcrafters was founded in 1890 as the W.J. Loth Stove company located in Waynesboro, Virginia which is on the western slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The company originally made cast iron stoves and ultimately created the Hotpoint range.

In the 1930s, the company began to make brass products under the trademark of Virginia Metalcrafters. In the late 1940s/early 1950s the company employed some of the great artists of the day to create masterpieces in brass. Calvin Kinstler was commissioned to create a carving of the triple crown winning horse, Citation. Internationally known sculptor Oskar Hansen (who created the sculptures on Hoover Dam) was commissioned to make the dozens of leaf shaped dishes that Virginia Metalcrafters is perhaps best known for. These magnificent little treasures are actually modeled from nature - each is signed and dated on the base and each tells you the name of the plant or tree the leaf is taken from. Many people collect the entire series.

In 1950 Virginia Metalcrafters began their line of Colonial Williamsburg brass and cast iron reproductions. Virginia Metalcrafters' uses the same hand casting and finishing methods as those used in the original Colonial pieces."

While interesting I don't know how helpful this will be to you except for the fact that the company didn't begin to use the name "Virginia Metalcrafters" or the logo "vm" until sometime after 1930.
There must be some meaning to 1889 being placed inside a horseshoe. A horse race perhaps?

[kath]

Thanks very much for the information.That was very usefull indeed and gives me alot more to research.
Kath

[Oralei/bronzedrooster]

This is called a brass horseshoe trivet.
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/horseshoe-trivet

[kath]

Thanks finding another one so quick.This one unfortunately is not so good.
Regards Kath

[Allen]

Hi! It looks like a trivet - either made out of a horseshoe or simply made to mimic one. Neat item - good luck with the ID!