Help Me Identify This... Thing?

I found this at a yard sale for $10, and the guy who sold it to me couldn't tell me exactly what it is. Is it some kind of incense burner? It has 8 of what look like venhilation holes on top. I was wondering if anyone here could tell me about the design/pattern on it as well. Thanks!

 

Sure looks like an incense burner. (Is that discoloration on the bottom from a burnt cone?) And Thai. Likely 1960s. Given quality, would have been an inexpensive thing at time.

Debora

 

I agree!

 

"I agree!" My favorite words next to "You're right!"

Debora

 

I took it apart to take a closer look and it seems like the incense would have been in this clear plastic tube lining the inside to protect from discoloration. The plastic does look a bit discolored but from aging rather than burning.

 

Don't think you'd -- certainly wouldn't recommend you'd -- burn incense in a plastic cup. Perhaps it's the other type of burner. Would an incense stick fit through the holes? If so, cup would have held sand.

Debora

 

That's what I thought too. My initial thought was that you'd use incnese sticks, but I've never seen an incense stick that narrow. I thought that maybe the plastic was put in it some time through the years by who knows who, but it fits in perfectly. This is very confusing...

 

The idea of an herb or pill grinder also crossed my mind because the plastic creates a flat surface and it screws in to touch the bottom, but it doesn't make sense due to the ventilation holes and what looks to be a few purposeful nicks in it

 

Maybe the plastic was used to smother the incense? Since it mostly just smokes

 

Hence the cloudiness of it? Could be. Plastic snuffer would make that newer and less expensive as compared to if that was a glass piece. I'd be kinda scared to go over someone's house that needs 8 sticks of burning incense at once - LOL!

 

That's what makes me thinks 70's. Incense was applied to a thin bamboo piece and placed through the holes into sand filled cup as previously stated, or plastic removed and burn cones.. Maybe dual purpose burner?

 

Remember it well. Agree with above.

Debora

 

Very interesting! I put .9mm graphite in for scale. And if you're using 8 at once you must have something to hide.

 

Out of curiosity, how much would you say this is worth present day?

 

Just an opinion but... think your yard sale price was just about right.

Debora

 

Size? This is a shaker, part of a set of two...maybe? Seen this before.
Looks like Thailand type of enamel application and Goddess etching. Export stuff mid 20th century. Much like the silver jewelry, except this is not silver....

 

Salt and pepper?

Debora

 

Wow! That's right. (You know what they say... if you remember the 60s, you weren't there.)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-Bra...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Debora

 

I was there as I remember baseball gear and fishing rods - NOW the 70's is a different story -

 

I was there too, in a boarding school with nuns, so a very very good girl....1970s totally different story.....LOL