Tuesday 18 August 2009

Does anyone know what this is?



Sorting through various things I came across this. It is a small block of what feels like soapstone. Mum didn’t know what it was or even where it came from – except that it was among odds and ends inherited from members of the family over the years. For a couple of years I was so fascinated by it I wore it around my neck and asked anyone who I thought might have a clue but to no avail.

If anyone out there has an idea what the symbols represent I’d be fascinated to know.

 

11 comments:

  1. Wow, how wonderful, it's a Freemason keystone. I wonder who it belonged to.

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  2. If you google shtwsstk you get a lot of hits that indicate it has to do with the Freemasons.

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  3. It looks like something used for direction finding.
    Keep us posted if you find out.
    Love Granny

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  4. Are there two or are you showing front and back of the same one?

    Absolutely no idea what the symbols are, but will endeavour to find out. An Edwards likes a challenge!

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  5. How unusual - I don't know what is though!

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  6. I think it's a masonic inscription of some kind - I remember seeing something like it before. I bet you could google the letters - or try something including King Solomon, because I think that's what the K S stand for.

    As far as the symbols on the other side - I have no idea.

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  7. I tried to post a comment earlier but work overtook me... I think it may be Hebrew and I thought of Psalm 119, you know, the one that is an acrostic. Most of the letters are recognizable as Hebrew letters - however the other side mystifies me - all the letters have Hebrew equivalents on the other side, but are not matching in quantity or position. May be there is a Hebrew scholar out there?

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  8. Sorry I can't help but I have found that the gentleman with a moustache at Baines jewellers in Heswall is very helpful.

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  9. Is it some sort of alphabetical time clock?? :-) And then, it favors the look of a mahjong tile...


    Best to you & your family.

    --hw

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  10. As you will all have gathered from the fact that Ian seems to have had the answer straight off, I didn't get around to seeing my comments until well after everyone had posted. I'm really glad about that because the guesses are fascinating - and the information about the man in Baines very useful.
    Once I find out what exactly a Freemason keystone is I'll post about it.

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