Antique ottoman... ehm... something

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.

Titus Pullo · 8th June 2006, 05:30 AM

Gorgeous!

not2sharp · 8th June 2006, 06:03 AM

OK, it's a 18th century movie prop for an Indian verison of a Martain UFO.

Just hang it by a string and play this theme music:

http://pages.prodigy.net/ehammer/ufoscare.mid

n2s

ham · 8th June 2006, 06:05 AM

Gentlemen,

Erlikhan is quite literally half right-- tabiki sahandir-- it is a food cover. The rest is cobbled up. Look at the difference in color between top and bottom. The applied brass edge was never intended to open. It is a bazaar curio, the production of which was prompted by a tourist demand for 'authentic' items... even when they had no idea what they were.

Ham

Rather · 8th June 2006, 10:53 AM

I also think that is is a hot water bottle to warm up the bed. Here is a old German version, made of copper, as a reference. It also has a ring to carry the bottle, when it's hot.

Tim Simmons · 8th June 2006, 07:30 PM

Far out!!

8th June 2006, 10:53 AM	#7
Rather Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hamburg, Germany Posts: 72	I also think that is is a hot water bottle to warm up the bed. Here is a old German version, made of copper, as a reference. It also has a ring to carry the bottle, when it's hot. Attached Images

7th June 2006, 05:41 PM	#1
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	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	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	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	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.

8th June 2006, 05:30 AM	#4
Titus Pullo Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 123	Gorgeous!

8th June 2006, 06:03 AM	#5
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	OK, it's a 18th century movie prop for an Indian verison of a Martain UFO. Just hang it by a string and play this theme music: http://pages.prodigy.net/ehammer/ufoscare.mid n2s

8th June 2006, 06:05 AM	#6
ham Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 190	Gentlemen, Erlikhan is quite literally half right-- tabiki sahandir-- it is a food cover. The rest is cobbled up. Look at the difference in color between top and bottom. The applied brass edge was never intended to open. It is a bazaar curio, the production of which was prompted by a tourist demand for 'authentic' items... even when they had no idea what they were. Ham

8th June 2006, 07:30 PM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	Far out!!