This curious wooden barbell or dumbbell has been part of my collection for many years. I just love the patina of the well-worn wood, and it's so tactile to hold.

At first I thought it was a darning tool, and I have used it like a spool to hold my ribbons over the years. Very handy!

The curious part is that is it only weighs about 230g! It seems too light to be used as a piece of antique fitness equipment, even in Victorian times, and yet this is the most likely explanation. 

I can't verify the age or provenance of this object, but it sure does look similar to other examples I could find online which describe them as dating to the Victorian era.

Well worn with signs of age and wear, chips and patina, but no major pieces missing or cracks in the wood. A wonderful item for display if you enjoy industrial style antiques and curiosities.

Please see photos as they form part of the product description.