Known as gigs, these forged iron eel catchers from the Netherlands date to the 1700s. Implements such as these have several names (eel rakes, piercers, etc.), all designed to spear eels when fishing. Fisherman would “stab” the muddy waters where eels bury themselves during the winter, catching the fish between the tines. There are quite a few different constructions used for gigs, but our pair features a five-tined version with barbs and deep channels and a six-tined offering with narrow separations. The iron extends beneath the tines and would have been attached to long wooden standards (the handgrips on ours have been lost). Savvy collectors often mount gigs such as these to metal stanchions, allowing them to be displayed on consoles, sofa tables, and mantles.

CONDITION: Very good antique condition. Minor oxidation, fleabites, and light losses, specifically to the prong tips, commensurate with age and use. The handgrips have been removed.