Monday mystery artifact

Posted on Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 7:56 a.m.

Monday mystery artifact

By Laura Bien

Think of the memory game that children played So long ago. A grownup brought a tray Laden with objects hidden by a shawl Or coverlet with fine brocaded flowers Beneath which, like the roofs of a small city, Some secret things lay cloaked. Then at a signal The cloth was whisked away for thirty seconds. You were allowed to do nothing but look, And then the cover was replaced. Remember? The tray contained bright densely crowded objects, Sometimes exotic--a small cloisonne egg, A candle-snuffer with an ivory handle....

--from a poem by Anthony Hecht

Last week's Mystery Object was instantly guessed by multiple winner erksnerks, Today we venture to the second floor of the Ypsilanti Historical Museum for a peek into a sunny room we've visited before. There on the mantle is this week's Mystery Artifact.

The object pertains to a craft that used to be commonplace but has largely disappeared. Some modern-day practitioners of this craft will recognize this object, or deduce what it is from one particular part of it. See if you can! Take your best guess; answer next Monday!

WINNER'S LIST: 8/3/09: erksnerks 8/10/09: Larissa 8/17/09: no winner 8/24/09: erksnerks, (2) 8/31/09: erksnerks, (3); Larissa, (2) 9/7/09: no winner; honorable mention to goblue18 9/14/09: erksnerks (4), Larissa (3), Janice A., Edward V. 9/21/09: a2dancelady, Mark Maynard, Creative Use of an Orangutan award to Lisa Bashert 9/28/09: erksnerks (5), Lisa Bashert (1.5), suem, Cindy Heflin, 10/5/09: Lisa Bashert (2.5), cmadler; Obscure Edible Plant Historical Factoid award to Ed Vielmetti 10/12/09: no winner 10/19/09: erksnerks (6)

Laura Bien is the author of the local history book "Stud Bunnies and the Underwear Club: Tales from the Ypsilanti Archives," to be published this winter. You can reach her at ypsidixit@gmail.com.

Mystery Artifact is published every Monday on AnnArbor.com.

Comments

Laura Bien

Mon, Oct 26, 2009 : 6:21 a.m.

And we have a winner! Well, all of you were on the right track! Good guessing!

Typha

Sun, Oct 25, 2009 : 12:24 a.m.

It is an embroidery hoop, designed to clamp to a table or the arm of a chair. This allows you to work without having to hold up the hoop.

Laura Bien

Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 6:26 a.m.

a2dancelady: Hmm, it does, now that you mention it. :)

a2dancelady

Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 11:06 p.m.

The top part looks like the embroidery hoop I used to use when I was little girl.

Laura Bien

Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 8:51 a.m.

FB guess from Larissa: "Still having problems logging on. I'll guess here some kind of quilting hoop."