Reed & Barton unknown holloware item

So I purchased this strange looking holloware item from a thrift store in Boulder CO a few years ago, only because I had never seen anything like it. The price was more that I wanted to pay but since being around a lot of silver plate and silverplate holloware this item stuck out as like nothing I had ever seen so I purchased it, and for the longest time cannot identify it.
Of course the trademark on the bottom dates the piece from 1885-1912, and this was verified by Reed & Barton when I sent photos to the company for any information they had on this.
Here is a quote from Reed & Barton:

{The trademark was used from 1885 thru 1912. it is silverplate. As for what it is we have no information. We no longer have an historian. The books available have no information on that piece. You would have to go to an appraiser for more information .}

Several years ago when Reed & Barton had an historian on staff I sent photos of this item and the historian could not identify it, but hinted it may have been used to store kerosene for lamps, but this was just an opinion.
This piece if very ornate as one would expect from something during the Victorian period.
Question is; what is it?
I have searched high and low for years trying to find another one like it but unable to do so. Not that there are not other pieces likes this as there must be, I just can't find another one.

If anyone has any suggestions I would be glad to entertain any and all.

I have not had it appraised, and probably won't as I don't want to spend the money on an appraisel and have no plans to sell at auction unless I thought it was really something rare that may bring a nice price, which I'm sure it's not rare, just unusual.

This item is 9 1/4" tall, and 6" wide across the spout and back of handle. It's very well made and as rigid and strong as the day it was built. It appeares to not have a spec of silver left on the base metal but it sure looks good on display in a china cabinet occupying a single shelf all to itself.