Antique Maple Tree Tap

This circa 1884 Maple tree 'Spile' is for tapping Maple trees to collect the sap for making Maple Syrup. It has a cross at the back where they are hammered into the hole that would have been pre drilled in the tree. There is a hollow channel for the sap to run down. It is made out of a metal that has rusted to give a 'Vintage Look' patina. Because of the rust, it is for decoration only and should not be put in a tree. Our Father found and collected these because he was making Maple Syrup and found the history of it interesting. One of the points of the cross at the back has broken off at some point in the last 140 years.