Featured Sterling Tea-Ball, Spring-Loaded Closure; Where Made, by Whom, an When?

It's ~4" long, ~1 1/4" diameter; weight is ~0.400 ozt. The only mark is Sterling (pics 4 & 5). The volume seems small, but perhaps for smaller cups or delicate tastes it would be just right. Have any of y'all an idea of its origin, or what this style of tea accessory may have been correctly called? Thanks for lookin'!

 

Looks like a tea ball to me. You put loose tea into the ball end and put it into a cup. Pour boiling water over the top and let set for a while, swishing around every so often. Remove, drink tea, and dump leaves.

 

Yep...thanks. I understand the basics of infusion, but thought if I had designed the contraption I would have offered an inspired, catchy name for it...the better to market it to retailers, an' the masses. How 'bout Springy Soaker? Or Eazy Teazy? No?
Well, hell...I had to try, y'know?

 

Could be a minimalist masterpiece designed by some Bauhaus Master like Gropius or van der Rohe- depends on how much time you want to spend researching and documenting it ?
PS-Although one of our resident Braniacs may recognize it.

 

Like the tea-infuser spoons, these handled tea balls were usually originally marketed as 'teaettes', as shown in the ads below, they were also produced with a catch rather than the plunger opener...


1917 ad:





1919 ad:




~Cheryl

 

YAY DRAGON !!!!!!!!

 

You weren’t too far off. Close, but no cigar.