Pioneer WATER, Resonant and Perfectly Patinated Old Cast Iron Street Water Valve Cover brass seal The exterior features both red

The exterior features both red

and the stuff of nightmares especially for girls with very long hair (and their mothers who have to comb them out

including the reverse

and--making it especially great as a sculptural object--this fantastic tread of metal nails ("hobnobs" I believe they are called) and horseshoe type heel plate

Pioneer WATER, Resonant and Perfectly Patinated Old Cast Iron Street Water Valve Cover brass seal The exterior features both redYou know I love found language (and what a resonant phrase here), and sometimes a great old cast iron object too. And I find the the graphic punch and clarity of the lettering on this just completely satisfying. This would have functioned as a street water valve access cover for a municipal water system, I believe. I found it in mid coast Maine and have since found one other example out there of this particular Pioneer Water cover, but in nothing like