Indian Bird-Form Jeweler's Torch

Flat-matte, soft-green at the edges, and unusually composed.

This jeweler’s torch, in the form of a bird, is iron from Karnataka, South India, made in the early 20th century. Torches like this are commonly connected with small metal workshops. The bill angles down at the left. At the right, a handle terminates in a fan-shaped plate with a greenish tinge, set against a dark, slightly pitted body divided by a clear seam. The mix of dull iron and pale green suggests a long life near fire and damp.

About 7 inches tall. Quiet, and quietly collectible.