A Question

[thisbluespirit]

In the 1968 TV Dracula, Bernard Archard's Van Helsing uses this to hypnotise Jonathan, but what is it?




calliopes_pen was curious. I hadn't really thought about it, because it seemed kind of familiar to me - but actually, I don't know what it is, either. Some sort of disc on a chain, only with a little arch to make the disc/coin part lie flat. However, I said that my flist know everything and I would ask you all and find out. Does anybody have any idea?

ETA: In terms of size, it's not that big - this is a close-up.

Comments

[lferion]

I suspect it is a watch-fob, either a seal or a stirrup, possibly a coin.

[thisbluespirit]

Thanks! That seems to be the conclusion over on the other side, too. :-)

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

I actually have no clue. It looks like a mirror on a chain.

*HUGS*

[thisbluespirit]

It is a bit odd, isn't it? It's not a mirror, though. I couldn't get a clearer shot of it at the time, but the disc/coin part is metal and engraved/moulded in some way.

[john_amend_all]

A seal ring? Compare this, for example.

[thisbluespirit]

Hmm, I don't know, I think it's too big for that, and the bobbly arch bit is definitely too big to be worn as a ring.

[john_amend_all]

I was thinking more of something hung from a watch-chain than worn as a ring.

[thisbluespirit]

It could be, then. It does look a bit like it!

[gillo]

It looks like a fob ornament, possibly involving a seal. I think they were attached to the end of the watch-chain that didn't have a watch on it.

Or it could be a Time Turner.

[thisbluespirit]

Or it could be a Time Turner.

LOL, probably not, or less people would have had to get vamped!

It sounds plausible, I think - you and John are definitely on the same lines and it does look rather like that.

[swordznsorcery.livejournal.com]

I'd say it's a pendant with a revolving doodad on the end. Reminds me a little of the hilariously awful magnifying glass pendant from the "Evil Dead" movies. Probably just whatever they happened to find in the prop cupboard. :)

Actually, the chain doesn't look doubled, so could it be a pendant? Possibly part of a watchchain then.

[thisbluespirit]

Looking at examples of fobwatch ornaments and seals via Google, while there's nothing exactly like that, it definitely looks like that kind of thing - I'm thinking gillo and john are right. (The chain is too short to be a pendulum, or not one on its proper chain.)

Dracula seems to have been quite good on its props and costumes, so I'd assume some effort on their part!

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

Looks like a charm or a pendulum to me...

[thisbluespirit]

I think it kind of is, only hung from a watch-chain - fob watch ornaments and things used to be used, it seems!

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

A spinner watch fob

http://www.tipsicocoin.com/browse_item.html?category_id=3255&item_id=2173

Oddly enough, one of the local jewellers has one in their window. Not that exact one, the one in the jewellers was just a coin.

[thisbluespirit]

Thanks! That is definitely the type of thing - so it's basically a spinner fob made from a seal or coin. \o/

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you got an answer. I've seen them before but can't remember where and I never knew their name.

[thisbluespirit]

Heh, so now we both know! :-)