Any Idea What This Is!!!

[Maine Digger]

Hmmm, ink well sounds promising. I guess I was thrown by the grape clusters and the framework; I was thinking it was food related. Last year I was thinking it was a precursor to sterno-type thing. If for ink, would it have had a glass liner? [8|]Any guess as to age? Thanks for all your replies.

 

[Ye Olde Prospector]

Believe most had a glass insert, often with a ground top and metal cap to slow down evaporation of ink.
Cliff

 

[Maine Digger]

Thanks Cliff, have you ever come across the glass inserts sans the holder? It would be great to have a complete unit for display. I suspect if there's some loose liners around, folks might mistake them for common small utility jars...

 

[Ye Olde Prospector]

Norm,
I have found a couple of square inserts but no metal tops on them. I am sure there were round ones as well. Watch around flea markets and antique shops, I have seen inserts with metal caps sometimes. Check diameter and you might get something that would fit. Chck around at bottle shows too might get lucky.
Cliff

 

[Gunsmoke47]

Hey Norm, looks like it would be perfect to hold toothpicks..... you know, to get bits and pieces of green apples out of your teeth![]

 

[woody]

If you look at the dimensions of the barrell you will notice it is about the size of most ink wells.
It swivels so you can angle it for your wrist when writing.

 

[wootten]

it is so cool whatever it is-looks like fun to have-if you do not want it let me know-hahah
anyhooooo-I think that reposting is a good idea-just since I have been here-I have gone back and read things from way back-gives a great idea of things-do they get rid of posts after a while-so then we must start over?
anyone know-wendy

 

[Ye Olde Prospector]

Another cobalt Whatzit

Dug this deep cobalt blue item in an 1880's dump. It appears complete other than a couple chips on one edge. Looks like it was pressed or made in a three piece mold. It measures 1 3/4 in by 1 1/2 in and has scrolls along the edge. The little bumps along the edges are quite pointed, almost sharp. The only thing I can think of is some sort of candle holder maybe? Anyone got any other ideas or thoughts.

 

[Ye Olde Prospector]

Another Cobalt Whatzit

Trying again on photo.

 

[Ye Olde Prospector]

Another Cobalt Whatzit

Another view.