Brass Miniature Legged Vase

Any idea what this thingy is and where it is coming from? About 4" tall. Souvenir piece?
Wonder if the black finish is original and if I should strip it down?
Thanks

 

For incense sticks. Probably Indian.

 

Probably bronze. Do not polish it. Not that it's any great treasure, in my opinion, just that to have any chance, bronze stuff needs a bronze patina.

 

Wouldn't the sticks burn down into the hole....and go out ??

 

I think it is brass or similar alloy but not bronze because an earth magnet attracts slightly to it. The black looks to me more like a finish than natural patina.
I am not seeing this to hold sticks. Maybe a cone?

 

a cone would have holes in it to let the scented smoke pass thru it...

 

The sticks I've seen these with are those old fashioned joss types. Half the stick is coated with incense, the other half plain wood, if that makes sense.

 

that makes scents.......

 

<GROAN>!

 

.....

 

I was researching something completely different but came accidentally upon this
Persian Bronze Kohl Vessel
https://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/4313079

 

Gotta say Kardi, you have good instincts and a good eye.

Poking around the internet since you posted, I've seen some with stoppers that have long, pointed, ice pick like applicators. A person would sure want to have a couple cups o' coffee before putting on the eye make-up with something like that in the morning.

All that black stuff might be a few hundred years of patina, so I think just leave it, is the right thing to do. If you can see any engraving anywhere, take a close-up for the edification of your potential buyers.

Hopefully you can get enough info to verify if it's as old as it looks. Also, it looks like someone once took the time and trouble to grind and smooth a broken foot.