Featured Porcelain item, unknown function (what is it?)

Discussion in 'Pottery, Glass, and Porcelain' started by blooey, Sep 13, 2019.

  1. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    Had this for some time and thought it would be fun to get some other eyes on it to see what we can come up with.
    Hard paste porcelain, top just sits loosely ...top has a small hole through it.

    What do you think it is?
    topon1.jpg topoff1.jpg base.jpg
     
    Marzena, kyratango and scoutshouse like this.
  2. gregsglass

    gregsglass Well-Known Member

    Hi,
    Looks like a vaporiser to snort up your nose. You put Vicks vapo rub in the pot and add hot water. Inhale the steam and feel better.
    greg
     
  3. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    fake breast for a toddler........................ maybe ? :hilarious::hilarious::hilarious:
     
    kyratango likes this.
  4. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    I think you nailed it mate!
     
    kyratango likes this.
  5. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Oil lamp, sans wick?
     
    kyratango, Figtree3 and blooey like this.
  6. silverthwait

    silverthwait Well-Known Member

    Presumably, the thing next to it, is for size comparison. However, what IS that thing next to it??
     
    kyratango likes this.
  7. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    It's a tape measure.
     
  8. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    tape measure with belt hook......................
     
  9. silverthwait

    silverthwait Well-Known Member

    Thanks, folks! Didn't realize my non-mechanical difficulties reached that far!
     
  10. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    This is my best guess too Bron, BTW it was found in an old Chinese mining camp excavation in BC Canada.
     
    kyratango and Bronwen like this.
  11. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Oh, boy. Open flame in a coal mine? Not a good mix. I was imagining more the oil version of those little candle holders people take up the stairs when they go to bed in period movies.
     
    kyratango, Figtree3 and blooey like this.
  12. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    I don't imagine it was used inside the mine, thinking more of a lamp to use at night inside the worker's tent ...either that or an opium lamp maybe? It is Chinese porcelain ...
     
    Bronwen likes this.
  13. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    upload_2019-9-13_19-9-44.jpeg

    one would heat the opium....but not touch it to the flame.....so,,,,
     
    kyratango, Figtree3 and Bronwen like this.
  14. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    Just curious ... is that a large tape measure or a small one? I have three tape measures, all different sizes. Thus, can't really estimate the size of your interesting item.

    Is there a mark on the bottom?
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2019
    kyratango, Bronwen and silverthwait like this.
  15. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    The tape measure? It's a 'medium' one I suppose; 2-1/2" with a 1" wide tape ...

    The porcelain item is 2-1/2" high, plus another 1" including the "chimney" section.

    No marks of any kind but definitely Chinese hard paste porcelain.
     
    pearlsnblume, Figtree3 and Bronwen like this.
  16. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member


    Tape measure looks like the one I own, which I believe is marked along one side as being 2 inches, so I used that to measure the item.
     
    Figtree3 and blooey like this.
  17. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

    Bron, this tape measure is slightly larger than yours, marked 2-1/2" ;)
     
    Bronwen likes this.
  18. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    Thanks! The one I have that looks the most like it (silvery metal case) is marked
    3-1/4" on the side, and the tape is 1" wide. I also have two smaller tape measures with plastic cases. One is marked 2-1/4" and one marked 2". Both of those have tapes 1/2" wide.

    There, that was fun, wasn't it? :)

    Actually, I'm glad that I asked because the larger one appears substantially larger than the other two. So I might have misjudged the size of yours.

    I like the vaporizer idea that Greg proposed. But wouldn't doubt there could be a lamp involved, despite the further discussion....
     
  19. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Gold mine maybe? BC has gold, and they may not have needed it to go down a pit, they could have been searching the piles left behind by other miners. That is what Chinese gold miners often did.
     
    Bronwen likes this.
  20. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    I'm with @gregsglass on the general purpose of this one.

    Maybe not the vapo rub, though. :p
     
    Bronwen likes this.
Draft saved Draft deleted
Similar Threads: Porcelain item
Forum Title Date
Pottery, Glass, and Porcelain Unusual item! Porcelain brush washer and holder? Mar 26, 2022
Pottery, Glass, and Porcelain Unknown porcelain item from Civil War era. May 16, 2020
Pottery, Glass, and Porcelain Need Help Identifying French (?) Porcelain (3 items on left) Mar 15, 2020
Pottery, Glass, and Porcelain Unknown Porcelain Item Spirit Burner Jun 7, 2019
Pottery, Glass, and Porcelain Very strange pottery/porcelain items Aug 21, 2016

Share This Page