Antique Knotwork Sailor's Cosh slip trailed and kept near in boxes

and kept near in boxes like this so to enjoy their chirping

Each measures approx 8 3/4" x 6 1/4"

and pretty backs too

This is about my favorite example of all I've seen

Wonderful two stanza poem

Antique Knotwork Sailor's Cosh slip trailed and kept near in boxesAbout a year ago I found a sailor's cosh similar to this one in the Hudson River Valley, and just returned to the same dealer to purchase this one, which came from the same estate. From what I understand, this exquisitely crafted but brutal object was a sailor's weapon, preferred over the knife, and according to lore was carried by "Press Gangs," who would use them to gather a crew by rendering unsuspecting victims on shore unconscious, only to awake