dog smoking hookah ?

[groundsloth]

This unusual item was mixed in with a clutch of bottles.I am guessing it is some type of tobacco or snuff paraphernalia. Anybody have any ideas or knowledge?

 

[botlguy]

I believe what the dog is sucking on is an early baby / invalid nursing bottle, probably British. The earliest ones had a rubber tube that could not be adequately cleaned and poisoned thousands of babies. What that contraption held or what it was used for I haven't a clue. Perhaps the nipples. What is it made of? looks quite rough. Jim

 

[groundsloth]

Thanks Jim! The invalid nursing bottle makes sense.I don't know exactly what type of metal the item is made out of.It has a shiny silver color underneath the tarnished surface. It is non-magnetic, feels dense, and is a bit "soft".I think it is pewter, or lead..... would that make sense?If they were poisoning babies with unwashed tubes they probably were giving them a good dose of lead as well.

 

[CanadianBottles]

Doesn't look like lead, lead doesn't corrode like that. Not to mention it's a lousy material for casting into figurines more detailed than lead soldiers because of how soft it is. Pewter seems pretty likely.

 

[cowseatmaize]

It looks like just pot metal.

 

[groundsloth]

Do you think it held some kind of powder that could be mixed into a medicinal drink?