According to Wikipedia  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finial) …

A finial or hip-knob is an element marking the top or end of some object, often formed to be a decorative feature. In architecture it is a decorative device, typically carved in stone, employed decoratively to emphasize the apex of a dome, spire, tower, roof, or gable or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Where there are several such elements they may be called pinnacles. Smaller finials in materials such as metal or wood are used as a decorative ornament on the tops or ends of poles or rods such as tent-poles or curtain rods or any object such as a piece of furniture. These are frequently seen on top of bed posts or clocks. Decorative finials are also commonly used to fasten lampshades, and as an ornamental element at the end of the handles of souvenir spoons. The charm at the end of a pull chain (such as for a ceiling fan or a lamp) is also known as a finial.

During the various dynasties in China, a finial was worn on the top of the hats civil or military officials wore during formal court ceremonies. The finial was changed to a knob for other daily usage (including semi-formal ceremonies).

I don’t know what the two finials we have here were originally used for… bedposts, perhaps?  They are, however, very heavy and intricately shaped, although they may be missing a top piece.

Please scroll down for more photos!

Condition:  Very good.

Dimensions:  about 10″ tall

Price:  $24 for the pair.

Location: You’ll find the finials, along with other of our vintage and antique inventory at Hathaway Mill Antiques, 10 Water Street, Waterville (ME). Their phone is 207-877-0250. Hathaway Mill Antiques is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. We are booth #23 (or HCB).

Shipping: These would probably cost as much to ship as the price of the finials themselves because of their size and weight..

Local Pick Up Available in Auburn, Maine.  If you’re willing to wait, the finials can be relocated to a private home in Auburn (ME), and seen by appointment – which ordinarily would be on weekends only.  Because we’ve been stood up before, the finials must be paid for in advance before we’ll bring them back from Waterville.

Payment Through This Website:  This site supposedly offers the option of paying directly but there’s some kind of weird glitch and payment info for every new item posted somehow auto-populates to every previous item.  Since that’s obviously wrong, I’ve had to eliminate that option on most items.  My apologies!  Please connect with me via heritagecollectiblesmaine@gmail.com for purchase info.  Because my primary business is non-stop and demanding, I may not get back to you until early morning or late evening. (More apologies!)

Our Other Maine Location (we’ve recently downsized): 

Oxford. Our more contemporary inventory is located at Happy Trails Antiques & Flea Market at 891 Main Street, Oxford (ME). Their phone is 207-515-0927. Happy Trails is open Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays from 9:00-5:00, and Sundays from 10:00-4:00. Our booth number is S75.  Until recently, we had 3 booths at Happy Trails but downsized because of time limitations.

By the way, if you like classy (not tacky) nude art like we do, check out our other website here: www.nude.boutique.  I haven’t had a chance lately to add any of our newer inventory to the site, but hope to soon.

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In memory of my beloved husband John K Snyder… 20 Sept 1956 – 21 Oct 2016.

He loved our shops, especially the section we called Heritage Books, Maps & Ephemera – that was his baby.  Johnny was an avid reader, who was passionate about the feel of real books in his hands… history was his forte, but in true Renaissance Man fashion, John knew a lot about a great many subjects.  He would often be so fascinated by a book he was reading that he would excitedly read aloud passages to me, so we could discuss the ideas contained therein.

He loved me like crazy, and oh how I loved him.

Follow our blog at https://warrior-project.org, in honor of my husband, and all others who have been lost to internal demons that in the end, overwhelmed them.

All of the profits after expenses from Heritage Collectibles, Books & Maps will go to help fund The Grief Warrior Project, a suicide prevention drop-in and counseling center in the process of being developed, although it has been in hiatus during the pandemic.  I’m hoping to begin working on this again during the spring of 2023.

(Please Note: The Grief Warrior Project is in no way intended to be reflective of, or piggy back off, Wounded Warriors which serves those military personnel wounded after September 11, 2001.  Like too many others, John was a warrior long before then.)