Hand-forged Pick Axe Head modern sculpture with a lid that opens

with a lid that opens up

and found it such a lovely and surprising thing

7 9/16" l x 2 1/8" d x 3 3/16" t and in very good condition

but there is a date of 1877 carved into the back

Hand-forged Pick Axe Head modern sculpture with a lid that opensSometimes when I am out hunting for things I find something that just feels good to carry around in my hand, and by the end of my stop if I've become pretty attached to it I won't let it go. This was the case with this hand forged piece, an old pick axe head I believe, which has both a great weight and hand feel to it, and to my eye more than passes the muster as an compelling sculptural object, looking a bit like a hand with one long finger pointing