Anyone able to help identifying this piece of pressed lead I found

Coil Swingers Show, Tell and Identify
1

Howdy, while detecting a South Island river I found this pressed lead plate. Looks as tho it’s a man, maybe climbing a ladder? I’ve contacted Te Papa and they had no idea what it could be from. Chat GPT said it could be a shipping label. Any ideas or info would be helpful

IMG_7754
IMG_77543024×4032 2.77 MB

4 Likes
2

I asked another AI and it said similar things…

This appears to be a lead seal or pilgrim badge/token. It has a molded design showing what looks like a figure or saint in an architectural frame or niche. Lead badges and tokens like this were common in medieval Europe, often created as souvenirs for pilgrims visiting religious sites or as merchant/trade seals. The grayish color and worn appearance is characteristic of aged lead, and these types of objects were typically cast in molds to create the relief design we can see.

Whatever its is very cool!

3 Likes
3

That’s one I haven’t heard yet. I need to do some more research into that

1 Like
4

Looks a bit like Lammerlaw trying to break out of jail to me. :laughing:

4 Likes
5

I wonder if it’s an old lead printing cast… an illustration in a paper or book?

1 Like
6

I reckon you are spot on MB. :rofl:

JW :cowboy_hat_face:

1 Like
7

Using a water based paint…press the image and run the image through whatever Ai tool etc i knows nothing of.

1 Like
8

Dont want to know what river but roughly where was it found friend of mine after earthquakes was in some tidal rivers found a piece of petrified wood that has 3 holes drilled or burnt through it definitely been shaped also can see knife marks around the handle part, also in same area found a human skull that is so old its turned to a sandstone type material with brow ridges so neanderthal shaped skull we know its a skull cause 4 back teeth still in it. So for wood to b petrified people here long long time b4 ever meant to have been, might be worth trying get those skull island bros to view it there lead was exact same colour dated back to 12th century. Pm the river if sounds like a similar area.

9

I asked my AI buddy and it said here is a breakdown of the identification:

1. Object Identification

  • Material and Form: The object is a rectangular block of lead, consistent with the shape of a small ingot or a purpose-cast weight. Lead was commonly used for counterweights, ballast, and sinkers in various industrial and maritime applications, especially during the gold rush and early industrial periods in New Zealand.

  • Location Context: Finding a historical lead artifact in a South Island river strongly suggests a connection to the region’s history, particularly the gold mining era (where dredges and other machinery were common) or early river transport.

  • Embossed Markings: The most critical feature is the embossed text, which appears to be “W.M.S. & SONS” (or possibly “W.M.S. & SON”). Above this text, there is a stylized figure or face, which is likely a trade mark or logo of the manufacturer.

2. Manufacturer and Purpose

The most probable identity of the object is a counterweight manufactured by a company whose initials were W.M.S. & Sons.

  • Counterweight/Ballast: The size, shape, and material are typical of weights used to balance machinery, such as the buckets or booms on gold dredges, or as ballast in small river boats and barges. These items were often cast from scrap lead and marked with the manufacturer’s name for inventory or quality control.

  • The “W.M.S. & SONS” Mark: While a company with similar initials, W. M. S. & Sons Ltd., was a known English silverplate manufacturer, it is highly unlikely they produced rough lead ingots. The marking is more likely from a local or regional engineering, foundry, or machinery supply company that served the South Island’s industrial sector, particularly the goldfields. Unfortunately, the exact historical records for a New Zealand-based “W.M.S. & Sons” foundry or supplier of this nature are not readily available through general search, but the context points strongly to this industrial origin.

In summary, you have found a piece of industrial history from the South Island, likely a lead counterweight or ballast ingot used in a gold dredge or a river vessel, marked with the initials and trade logo of its manufacturer, W.M.S. & Sons. It is a tangible link to the region’s past, particularly its gold mining and river transport heritage.

I recommend contacting a local New Zealand historical society or a museum on the South Island, as they may have specific records or knowledge of the “W.M.S. & Sons” mark in the context of local industry or gold dredging operations. They would be the best resource for a definitive identification.

it looks to me like a naval officer climbing a ladder