My best guess - CENSER? Maybe Moroccan?

Another mystery from an old estate a few weeks ago.
Round, 7" diameter, 1-1/2" high, weighs 2-1/2 pounds.
Made of non-ferrous metal, seems to be brass - but color seems light for either polished or tarnished brass, so I'm thinking silver plated. Indeed, when I rubbed the inner rim on bottom with a silver cream impregnated cloth, it got both shinier and lighter.
Inner dish looks like tarnished copper, with black smudges like something burned there. No cigarette rests makes me think censer, rather than ashtray.
I am guessing the two holes on opposing sides were for some sort of handle or hanger.
Interesting construction - two matching halves attached together by some hidden fasteners. I am guessing they are hidden by the copper pan inserted in the center - but that is swedged(?) into the opening so that I couldn't pop it out.
As for the decoration, I can only GUESS Moroccan - but have no knowledge to back that up...
What do YOU think?

 

Love it. Dunno what it is but want one. Looks more bronze than brass but
I'll leave that up to the experts.
Cheers
Stephen

 

I believe this was originally made as an anklet, from Madhya Pradesh, India, and converted to an ashtray, like this one:

http://gaatha.com/the-vanishing-act-of-lost-wax/


https://www.pinterest.com/pin/354799276870472554/?lp=true
India | Antique anklet; bronze with silver wash and beautiful geometric designs


Large Art Tribal Antique Ethnic Cuff Bracelet Bangle Anklet White Brass India 1920

 

i'm on board with that.......good call 2mb....

 

I'm with 2many, with just one note. Although these started as converted ankle bracelets in the 60s, many are not.
There was such a demand for these as ashtrays during the Hippie period and after, that they started making them new, as a ready made anklet ashtray. They are still being made, not necessarily for use as ashtrays, but because they are so decorative.

I prefer the more intricate design on the bottom, btw. I would probably display it upside down.

 

Thanks for the nice compliments.

 

Have one with a Pier 1 label and tag explaining it is a bracelet bowl.

 

Oh, I'd hate for it to be as common as that! How much alike is yours to mine?

 

Also known as African slave bracelets :https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Sl...nkle-Dish-Ashtray-Africa-Vintage/112634109892 Mine, which was procurred by an American oil engineer working for a Saudi company in the 1960's, is quite tall and heavy .

 

Hmm, I do see several listed that way on eBay, including some very much like mine.

 

Different form but similar construction. Mine is currently for sale in my shop space. If still there when I go in Fri., I'll get a pic for you with label.

 

Don't you love well-informed sellers? We all make mistakes, but this ......
Just the logic of it, would slavers go to that much trouble to get their 'trade goods' (their view, not mine) such intricately decorated bracelets?
And is it a selling point? Very few people want antique slavery related items in their home.
Besides, these bracelets are clearly not antique, and African slave trade is still going on. Does anyone outside that specific criminal circuit want to be part of that?

 

Here are pics of the one I have for sale. I was mistaken about it being Pier One. It was from World Market (Similar but different).

 

This looks like one of the newer ones that @Any Jewelry talked about - made as an ashtray but based on the old function. Not as nice work as @LoveTheHunt! 's.