Old West & Native American Auction
Lot 1391:
Description
This fascinating lot of vintage gold prospecting tools appears to be a selection of implements used during the latter half of the 19th and early 20th centuries by gold seekers, perhaps in the Western United States or other mining areas. The collection includes a large gravel sifter/screen, a small metal pail/bucket, and a short-handled shovel/scoop. The gravel sifter has a large wooden rim with a metal screen grid and would have been used to shake and separate larger rocks and gravel from finer material that might contain gold dust or nuggets. The pail is a simple, heavily rusted piece of iron or tin, typical for carrying water or small amounts of paydirt. The shovel is a heavy iron or steel scoop with a wooden handle, ideal for digging or moving paydirt into the sifter. Condition is heavily distressed, consistent with true utilitarian use and age. The pail is extensively rusted and dented. The sifter’s wood rim is worn, and the screen is intact but rusted. The shovel has heavy rust on the metal scoop and a worn wooden handle. No discernible manufacturer markings are visible. Sifter is 17” diameter, 4” thick. Pail is 8” diameter by 5” tall. Shovel is 14” long by 4.5”wide. From the Western display in Donley’s Wild West Town.
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