Featured Silver or silverplate and enamel MYSTERY PIECE

Huge apologies because I know I listed this item as a question before --just couldn't remember if it was here or back on the Ebay boards, but no one knew back then what this was. Thinking there might be some new members with ideas so giving it another try.

I've been going through some silver items, testing for silver or not. (Jury still out whether this is sterling -- you see the base where I tested it, last photo. The base surface is sort of odd, not smooth exactly, but this tested for silver. I suppose could be silver plate?)

Main question, what is this? It has remained a mystery piece. Maybe missing something? All we came up with last time I asked was that was part of an old magician's set possibly. Bottom is round, like a roly poly.

Any ideas?

 

I have no idea, but I like it. Looks like it is supposed to sit in something.

 

Dont ask me why but I thought incense burner ?

 

It is a retro looking piece, to my eye, and I like it...Back in the MCM Sputnik era.



Dang.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/76621146_vintage-chrome-sputnik-table-lighter

 

Not to be denied!

 

no idea but a fascinating thing!

 

Thanks for the thoughts so far, everyone. Thanks for posting the photo, Sabre. The enamel make me think earlier than the Sputnik era, but will look into it.

Definitely keep the ideas coming!

 

Me too.

For an astronomer.

 

A very classy version of this?

 

Caviar server missing the base?

 

at first I thought it was one of those old spinning top things where you would push down on the top part and it would spin. That's all i got. LOL

 

Good idea on the caviar, but the bottom of this doesn't look like anything was ever fixed to it. Could imagine it being cradled by a 2nd piece though.

Thought I might have just had a lead on something but pretty sure it fizzled out. Was thinking, okay so what fits in here? Something completely round about 2-2 1/4" in diameter. Like the size of a racquetball.

So I started looking online at pocket sized antique globes because those often came with custom sized boxes. But those little globes seem to have an axis points and a little indentation in the box where the axis points go. This doesn't have that. So still not sure what this is.

 

It's not sending a signal back to the mother ship, is it?

 

I always eat my caviar from shell vessels with shell spoons - just kidding, never tasted it (although I have fished for sturgeon)

 

@Lucille.b when it’s resting on it’s rounded bottom (fortunately we don’t have a bottom emoji) is it weighted to stay upright like a Weeble or does it fall over?

 

Obviously I am a heathen.

 

I love caviar, but I am a heathen when it comes to oysters. They taste like boring little bags filled with salt water to me.
I will now hide for the rest of the day.

 

Funny, I’ve not seen them described like that in a restaurant!