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I have been trying to figure out what this item was used for. I haven't found anything that resembles it in any search I've been able to come up with.

The piece is a 2 part bowl with a wooden handle. The 2 parts of the bowl are the outside part with an iron piece with upward projections and a piece that conforms to shape and inserts into it. The bottom of the inner piece has an iron bottom plate with slots formed that allow the projections to come through it.

The bowl is brass with an outside diameter of approx 4 3/4 inches. It is barrel shaped and has 3 decorative piercings about half way up.

The inner part has a little wooden handle attached to allow picking it up and out.

The only markings are on the socket for attaching the main handle, a detail of this is shown.

Thank you very much for any information that will help me research this.

Jeff

It appears to be a Chinese charcoal iron, perhaps a latter-day version of an old design that's still used in one form or another almost everywhere in Asia where electricity is lacking. I've added a photo of one of the older types. It lacks the wooden handle that dampens transmission of heat to ironers' hands.

Best regards,

Bill H.

I agree now. I wanted to believe it had some food purpose but have found a couple of examples, missing the inner piece, but otherwise identical.

Thanks

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