What Is It? - #15

S

SifuPhil

R.I.P. With Us In Spirit Only
Location
Pennsylvania, USA
AAAAaaaaand ...

Hot on the heels of #14 and Planxty's spectacular victory we have today's offering, a pricey little item that you probably won't find sitting at the bottom of Grandma's dresser drawer ...

mysteryantique010411.jpg


Size: 7.25" long x 3.5" high
Circa: 1908 - 1917/Moscow
Russian silver and enamel


What Is It?
 

^^^that. Something from the days of Egyptian Royalty.

That or a really fancy ashtray for somebody that "has it all" :eek:nthego:
 

TICA said:
Looks like a fancy shoe....
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It does, doesn't it? Sort of a Polish high heel. (HEY, I can say that - I'm quarter Polish!) :rolleyes:

TWHRider said:
^^^that. Something from the days of Egyptian Royalty.

That or a really fancy ashtray for somebody that "has it all" :eek:nthego:
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It would be a sin to use that as an ashtray - this example was successfully auctioned in 2011 for $25,000 USD.

TICA said:
And.... just because I don't really have a clue what it is - maybe its a gravy boat?
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OOOhhh - VERY warm! ...

R. Zimm said:
Is it supposed to hang on something, like a chair? And you then place something else in it?
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Although you could hang it on a chair, that isn't its true purpose.

That Guy said:
It's definitely a torture device because this is just torture!
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LOL - maybe if it WERE a shoe you could have your foot forced into it! Alas, it is not footwear ...


Well, so far Tica is the closest ...
 
Well, I'm pretty sure it's not a spittoon............. :p :D Before dinner; hmmm. A ladle (for tea, or maybe salad dressings)???
 
Sorry I'm late in replying - I haven't been getting email notifications of responses - must be a burp in the servers (again).

Anyway, here we go ...

SeaBreeze said:
Appetizer, snack or candy dish? :confused:
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Nope, not a candy dish.

Anne said:
Well, I'm pretty sure it's not a spittoon............. :p :D Before dinner; hmmm. A ladle (for tea, or maybe salad dressings)???
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Let me get back to you in a moment ...

rkunsaw said:
Hmmmm,
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No, sorry, it isn't a Hmmmm.

Ozarkgal said:
Table butler...never mind, it can't be that if it's used before dinner.....tricky one. The handle has me puzzled. It looks like it should hang on something.
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I thought most table butlers had two legs, two arms and wore evening coats?

Planxty said:
A sugar boat.
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Nope - no sugar.

SeaBreeze said:
Cocktail holder?
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No, not a cocktail holder.

That Guy said:
I was gonna go with butter dish but see that's only "warm"...???

A napkin holder?
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Not a napkin holder.

_______________________________________________________________________

I think Anne should win this one as she was technically the closest.

What Is It?

It is a Kovsh - a Russian ladle originally made of cheap metal or wood, used for sampling and drinking mead before dinner. This one was a presentation piece, possibly from a Tsar to one of their supporters.

A few other examples of kovshs ...(Kovshes? Kovshi?)

kovsh_marked_k_faberge.jpgkovsh-2645507.jpgkovsh-lbv.jpg


Well done, Anne, and great answers everybody!

Be sure to tune in again next time, when our hero asks the world-shaking question ...

What IS It?
 
SifuPhil said:
LOL - I'm thinking now of a scene at the Imperial Court, the kovsh has just been presented to one of the Tsar's loyal subjects, and someone comes along and spits in it ... :eek:
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SimpsonsSpit-Take.jpg
 
EEEEWWW....:D I thought it was a bowl of some kind, but it was so small. And the handle does look like it should hang on something.
 

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