17th Lancers / 17th/21st Lancers Motto - Date & Manufacturer?
 

A somewhat battered motto.
Originally slidered, it has a hole through each eye socket and was perhaps wrapped around and tacked on to a walking stick or similar.
It seems to have quite a distinctive "bite", a slight lopsidedness to the jaw.
I'm hoping that one of the motto experts will be able to identify it's manufacturer please so that I can pass that info. to the owner.
The owner does not intend to sell or otherwise dispose of the item.

G'day Leigh

The poor thing looks to have had a hard life.

As you'd appreciate putting a date of manufacture of a Motto is a bit difficult.

Rather than try to date it I will make a few observations.

First the skull is of a funny shape.
It does not have "ears" so is not of a pre first world war manufacture.
There has never been lugs or a slider attached to the rear.
The ends of the bones and the scroll are flat and do not show any evidence of having been die struck.
It looks to be made of yellow brass rather than being white metal.

Can you please give us some measurements ?

I cant offer any help as to how it came into being, however I'd doubt that it was ever used by the Regiment.

I hope that this helps.

Regards Phil.

Phil,

Apart from Leigh saying it had remains of a slider, its stub is clearly visible in the pics!

I can't give measurements I'm afraid, I can only say it's the "normal" size as worn in the cap but can't be more specific.
It's of white metal but toned and dirty, it's had a slider fitted.
I think the flattened bone and scroll ends and perhaps the shaping to the skull must've been caused by its having been hammered to shape around a tube, it looks like it's been tacked to a stick with nails through the eye sockets.
Identifying manufacturers and dating mottos is beyond me but there's always the chance that the 17th, 17th/21st L experts can give some info. (eg you've pointed out that it's post-WWI).

its a (My Ref) long nose motto ....

Thank you, I'll pass that info. on to the owner.

Hello Griff

The 'long nose' Motto of yours looks a good match. You haven't mention a date or manufacturer? have you any thoughts on that?
I checked out some references I have and I'd suggest 17/21L, interwar period possibly, but I've no idea of manufacturer.

Regards
Rob

Thank you for that info.