Posted 9 years ago
tinkerintr…
(1 item)
Not sure what it is or was used for. I have searched for weeks. Can anyone share some information with me??? Found at a nearby yard sale. Possibly fashioned from the antique Bell Brass used when making the counter check in bell of hotels???
I don't know why, but it reminds me of those round ball retro cigarette dispensers of the 1960's.
Thank you Phil and Collectors Weekly. But it is a round glass dish insert that is inside. No place for holding or putting out cigarettes. But good guess. It's what I thought at first. No tar or ash reside.
Is it possibly a powder dish or soap/sponge box??? Trinket holder??
How big is it?
I mean in circumference. The glass liner looks a bit too small in height to me, so wonder if it might be a replacement. Possible that it still was used by women for tipping ashes. The design is a type of Sputnik.
A sugar bowl/box as this new one:
http://www.techni-contact.com/produits/1177-8577507-sucrier-de-bar-inox.html
That could possibly be a sugar cube holder. In searching I have found some inkwell/ink holders that have similar dish inserts also. Possibly Art Nouveau prima tole painted solid brass gilded base. What year would you place it?? I wish I had some history on it.
Too big for an inkwell, I think it is rather Victorian era than Art Nouveau :-)
Thank you kyratango. That is what my friend told me. Still in debate on the use. She says vanity item. I am not sure. But I like the sugar dish idea.
Are the mesurements coherent with the sugar bowl on my link? The opening is absolutely same, up to the button pull.
Packed away for my move in two weeks. I will update after I move. Thank you for the imput. I knew it was an interesting piece and I have been having fun trying to figure out what it was used for.