Let's Talk About Pottery & Collectables

Collectables => Treen => Topic started by: Elaine on October 10, 2007, 09:36:45 PM

Title: What is this for?
Post by: Elaine on October 10, 2007, 09:36:45 PM

Here's another one I find a mystery.  It looks like a pepper-pot but there's no hole in the top!  It comes in three parts.  The lid comes off then the top comes off the base, but there's no room to put anything in the lower piece.  There's a little old piece of paper in the base, but I think it's there simply because the middle section is a loose fit. 

Any ideas what it's for? 

Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: Elaine on October 10, 2007, 09:51:00 PM

There's nothing under it Kev, just the hole the middle bit fits in  ???

Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: Tigerchips on October 11, 2007, 06:30:20 AM

A thread winder/holder?

Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: Sue C on October 11, 2007, 10:33:54 AM

Do you think the top part,s and the base are a marriage?

Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: Elaine on October 11, 2007, 11:03:40 AM

I don't think so, Sue.  They fit very well together, but are just a little bit loose. 

The top 'compartment' is deep enough to keep some sort of (small quantity of) spice, for example, although it doesn't smell of anything now except wood (and dust - euch!) 

Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: Sue C on October 11, 2007, 11:21:53 AM

Ahhh, Nutmeg!!

Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: Elaine on October 11, 2007, 01:01:01 PM

Having got this out and looked at it again, I think Sue may be right that the top and bottom may in fact be a marriage!  The wood of the base is different, and much coarser grained - less well finished!  I think it was possibly made to replace a lost or broken base, as it is clearly 'in the style of' the pagoda-type lid. 

I've looked at (and smelled) the inside again, and I think that whatever it was originally made for, it has possibly never been used. Nutmeg is indeed a possibility, I'd have thought, but if it had been used I would expect some trace to linger, as the lid is a good tight seal.   

Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: Lustrousstone on October 11, 2007, 03:29:45 PM

Could you get a whole nutmeg in it? Unground nutmeg doesn't smell much. Maybe the bottom should have had some kind of grater.

Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: Elaine on October 11, 2007, 04:27:53 PM

Yes, you probably could get a whole nutmeg in!  And no, it wouldn't smell before it was grated, would it?   ::) 

Thanks  :kissy:  I can be a bit slow sometimes!  :blush:

Title: Re: What is this for?
Post by: Lustrousstone on October 11, 2007, 09:01:06 PM

Nutmeg has long been desirable and valuable see http://www.indepthinfo.com/nutmeg/index.shtml (http://www.indepthinfo.com/nutmeg/index.shtml). There is a silver holder here http://www.silverrush.co.uk/index.html (http://www.silverrush.co.uk/index.html). Makes sense that it would have its own storage container - we could be wrong of course