Ornate silverplate hollow cylinder for what?

I am sure I am the only person in the world who doesn't know what this is. It rings a bell and I can't pin it down. Anyhow, it is a hollow metal [silverplate I guess] cylinder, 33 cm long. One end is removable and is joined to the rest by a chain. No marks or any such that I can find. Trust the photos are sufficient. Sorry, I've managed to add one in twice. There is no gilt - only silver - the angle I took it at caught a bit too much light. It is for carrying something - documents? And I thought maybe some religious connotation? There was a thickish layer of a powdery substance in it when I first opened it and for one blinding moment, I thought I might have someone's ashes!!

 

make that 2 people...........i don't even care to guess !!!

 

Did I put you off with my reliquary connotation?

 

no....not a bit.
I was thinking a scroll cuz it's fancy enough to house something important.....

 

Scroll case was my first thought too & don't know why that would be a strange size. If you search for silver/sterling scroll case, you get things like this:

https://www.etsy.com/il-en/listing/480542478/handmade-sterling-silver-judaica-scroll

 

http://www.tiroche.co.il/ItemPagePast.asp?id=35455

 

that takes care of that !!!

 

also look carefully at the design, sometimes marks are hidden in there

 

I have seen them described as Persian scribes' writing implement cases, pens, brushes, whatever they used.

An ornate pencil case.

It is probably a lower grade silver rather than silver plated.

 

Thank you all. Most interesting and very much appreciated. The one word I never searched under was 'case', let alone 'pencil case'. I did hunt for a mark through all the decoration but went cross-eyed trying to make anything out. I'll have another go. I never thought of looking inside. Bronwen, many thanks, your images look very promising. I was considering the possibility that it was to house a religious document. I'll let you all know if I find anything more.

 

could be a Mezuzah, but quite unusual that there's no writing on it.

 

Snuff box? Keepsake?

 

It's big for a mezuzah, though.

 

At 33 CM that is a lot of snuff

 

'Megillat Esther Case' finds many similar.

 

The scroll of Esther is an unusual item....brought out only on Purim , most often seen & used with a handle & pull out parchment ......



BUT......Bronwen may be on the right track of a type that's not often seen....

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Megilah-Cas...ver-Made-Skin-Esther-Megila-30s-/162371931345

 

Yep, that would be a serious addiction.

 

What is a mezuzah please?