Mystery base or bell?

I thought this was a doorbell cover when I quickly grabbed it at an estate sale. It’s so bulbous I thought maybe hotel desk bell after looking at it more. Re-found it in a box today and realized there are no holes to mount it. So doorbell cover seems to be out. Could still be a desk bell I suppose. Not sure how they are typically constructed. Maybe a base to something? Center hole is threaded. Has an art nouveau-ish design. Heavy construction. 6” from petal tip to petal tip measured across bottom. No marks anywhere. What is it?

 

lamp base...?

 

Well shoot. I saw the little ridges but not the holes in them. Maybe a light fixture? Not sure how it would work exactly

 

Possibly. Roaring20s pointed out the little holes on each side. That adds a different layer potentially.

 

It looks like a ceiling or canopy bell for a hanging cast iron chandelier, Eastlake style.

 

I almost remembered to mention, the diameter is rather small as the usual style treatment was to install in the center of an ornate ceiling medallion. You know those Victorians.. anything worth doing is worth overdoing!

 

Well I’ll be darned. Bingo! Thanks for the pics, brings it all home. So probably late Victorian overlapping the Art Nouveau era?