What it is .

[surfaceone]

Thanks Rick, hey Greg,

I thought it might have been some sort of assayer's crucible while looking at the first picture. I gather that the technical term may also be "cupel."

From.

From.

I've found broken examples of the cup like crucible in the vicinity of Nevada diggings.

"A fascinating object and part of Dr. Ralf Pray’s assay office (see background below) during its hey day of production. Metallic particles and ore residue (imbedded in the glassy slag) gives the specimen a dark glazed look." From.

From.

 

[Clam]

The one I dug is in good condition with a nice glaze on the interior so I was doubtful about it being a crucible which would have been exposed to temps in excess of 2000 F multiple times. All of the equipment I have seen used to cast bullets was cast iron with long handles which could handle temps like that almost indefinetly.

 

[GuntherHess]

Nice German bird box []
Hope it didnt belong to this goon.

 

[JOETHECROW]

Ive got two or three of those that I found in the basement of an old house in Pittsburgh...Please pardon my dust,...they're above the woodstove on the upper mantle....Lot's of dust and ash.

 

[Digswithstick]

Matt it has an L should H if it was the goons []
Here is a few more waterers ,these ones the wife snagged and displayed.Some different sizes and some glazed inside .[]

 

[JOETHECROW]

[] Maybe it was an early "Luftwaffe" experiment for spy birds,...Hence the "L"? After all look what they have now.
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-02-robot-hummingbird-flight-video.html

 

[Digswithstick]

Some more .
Was going to post pic of my crucible ,but must have deleted pic and no longer have it,traded it .It had pour spouts on both sides .Posted pic on forum many moons ago but no clue how to find it .Thanks again Surf ,like them pics ! []

 

[JOETHECROW]

Rick...Cool that we now know what they were for...but I wonder why there were so many in your dump?

 

[Digswithstick]

Those are great ones Joe ,thanks for posting them ! Luftwaffe ,thought about that but should have figured some one would catch it[]. Not sure Joe but found some coal tags in the dump ,possibly they were used for pets as well . We posted same time ,hence the multiple replies[]. []

 

[JOETHECROW]

Rick...thanks,...Here's the link,...(To your very FIRST post)[] https://www.antique-bottles.net/forum/m-170371/mpage-1/key-crucible/tm.htm#170442