Antique ottoman... ehm... something

erlikhan · 6th June 2006, 03:38 PM

manolo,I understood what you mean after I rechecked the pictures . Perhaps the joint of the top part (which is specualted as if a buckler) is somehow broken,seperated from the rest of the cover? Otherwise it would not have a pratical use of any kind at all.

Valjhun · 6th June 2006, 05:01 PM

That cap seems to be spring mounted. It goes up and down. logically, by twistening it, it should open the thing, but I cannot say. The two halfspheres are rivetted toghether and they are not coming apart, so I would exclude the food container option. The opening would be too small.

As a matter of fact, it could be manufactured from a buckler.

My guess is that it is a liquid incense burner or boiler of some kind. Did the ottomas use liquid incenses?

Zifir · 7th June 2006, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valjhun

That cap seems to be spring mounted. It goes up and down. logically, by twistening it, it should open the thing, but I cannot say. The two halfspheres are rivetted toghether and they are not coming apart, so I would exclude the food container option. The opening would be too small.

As a matter of fact, it could be manufactured from a buckler.

My guess is that it is a liquid incense burner or boiler of some kind. Did the ottomas use liquid incenses?

Yes, especially religious orders (tariqats) used incense burners in their ceremonies. In fact, they still do. It could also be for private use. My guess would be the same, it looks like an incense burner to me, but who knows.

erlikhan · 7th June 2006, 05:07 PM

Perhaps all the upper half was once the cover which was lifted by the ring and edge was fixed to the bottom part later?? If it was a burner, then it should have something to pick and carry it,most practically two facing each other in the middle edge,not? The small ring on the top would be very weak and uncomfortable to carry an oil filled burner, and as it would be expected to get hot while burning or even wet with oil, one would not wish to hold it by hand directly on the main body.In fact even if it was a sahan,it should have something to carry it comfortably but it doesnt..

Emanuel · 7th June 2006, 05:41 PM

I was starting to think that maybe this was hanged from the ceiling -hence the ring- but the decorations are restricted to the top part and it would therefore have to be visible from the top. So then it sits on something. The tight spring cap means the "container" would be fairly hermetic no? If it were an oil lamp, couldn't it be simply carried in-hand, held from the bottom? I have an oil lamp, and the burning apparatus gets hot, but the underside of the vessel itself does not.
It's no good for pouring liquids, it's no good for storing/serving foodstuffs, short of it being a gong or musical instrument I can't see what it can be besides an incense/oil burner.

Regards,
Emanuel

Rick · 7th June 2006, 09:25 PM

Are the top and bottom halves made from different metals ?
It looks to me like the bottom is made from copper .
If this is the case then this item was probably meant to be heated .
Also there is what looks like a key cut out on the opening ; have you tried turning the top itself or the ring to see if there is a tab that would line up with the keyhole ?

Tim Simmons · 7th June 2006, 09:45 PM

I think this is a bed warmer, using hot water like a hot water bottle, where as European bed warmers used coals and all that servant stuff, a hot pan on a stick. You can find stoneware hot water bottles but I do not think this area has a history of stoneware ceramics, some very fine earthenware mind, I might be horribly wrong.

6th June 2006, 03:38 PM	#1
erlikhan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Istanbul Posts: 452	manolo,I understood what you mean after I rechecked the pictures . Perhaps the joint of the top part (which is specualted as if a buckler) is somehow broken,seperated from the rest of the cover? Otherwise it would not have a pratical use of any kind at all.

6th June 2006, 05:01 PM	#2
Valjhun Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	That cap seems to be spring mounted. It goes up and down. logically, by twistening it, it should open the thing, but I cannot say. The two halfspheres are rivetted toghether and they are not coming apart, so I would exclude the food container option. The opening would be too small. As a matter of fact, it could be manufactured from a buckler. My guess is that it is a liquid incense burner or boiler of some kind. Did the ottomas use liquid incenses?

7th June 2006, 05:07 PM	#4
erlikhan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Istanbul Posts: 452	Perhaps all the upper half was once the cover which was lifted by the ring and edge was fixed to the bottom part later?? If it was a burner, then it should have something to pick and carry it,most practically two facing each other in the middle edge,not? The small ring on the top would be very weak and uncomfortable to carry an oil filled burner, and as it would be expected to get hot while burning or even wet with oil, one would not wish to hold it by hand directly on the main body.In fact even if it was a sahan,it should have something to carry it comfortably but it doesnt..

7th June 2006, 05:41 PM	#5
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	I was starting to think that maybe this was hanged from the ceiling -hence the ring- but the decorations are restricted to the top part and it would therefore have to be visible from the top. So then it sits on something. The tight spring cap means the "container" would be fairly hermetic no? If it were an oil lamp, couldn't it be simply carried in-hand, held from the bottom? I have an oil lamp, and the burning apparatus gets hot, but the underside of the vessel itself does not. It's no good for pouring liquids, it's no good for storing/serving foodstuffs, short of it being a gong or musical instrument I can't see what it can be besides an incense/oil burner. Regards, Emanuel

7th June 2006, 09:25 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Are the top and bottom halves made from different metals ? It looks to me like the bottom is made from copper . If this is the case then this item was probably meant to be heated . Also there is what looks like a key cut out on the opening ; have you tried turning the top itself or the ring to see if there is a tab that would line up with the keyhole ?

7th June 2006, 09:45 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	I think this is a bed warmer, using hot water like a hot water bottle, where as European bed warmers used coals and all that servant stuff, a hot pan on a stick. You can find stoneware hot water bottles but I do not think this area has a history of stoneware ceramics, some very fine earthenware mind, I might be horribly wrong.