What Is This?

[horseshoes]

http://i62.tinypic.com/xax7h1.jpg

The silver part is only 4" x 3" (10 x 7 cms). Do you think it might be for collecting crumbs and it's missing its brush?

TIA

[baza]

Looks like a posh ash tray.

[grasscarp]

its a bed pan

[murraymints]

or hot coals as bed wamer ?

[murraymints]

maybe not if that small....

[horseshoes]

Lol Grasscarp,you'd have to have a good aim?

MM - much too small:-(

Baza - too posh!

[MargoTester]

Antique chafing dish

[grasscarp]

Not for wee. It is a bed warmer (antique) and this is a small model of one. Definitely.

[grasscarp]

here you are
http://www.petercameronantiquesilver.com/antique-silver/d/a-george-i-toy-or-miniature-silver-bed-warming-pan/159611/

[MargoTester]

It's an antique chafing dish without the burner for keeping food warm

[horseshoes]

But Grasscarp, this has little legs and feet, so you wouldn't be able to slide it around to warm the bed. I don't actually know what it is, but I'd be very surprised if it WAS a bedwarmer. If I'm wrong, then please accept my apologies well in advance;-) x

[MargoTester]

The handle is not long enough for a bed warming pan. I can't do links but Google antique silver chafing dish.

[retrocop]

An early Hostess trolley without the ....er trolley. Keeps the roast spuds warm at the table. :-)

[horseshoes]

Margot there is only 1 cm gap underneath it. Could you get a burner small enough to fit?

[-Talbot-]

It's a Weetabix server, my butler has one.

[mrs_overall]

As has been said by others, it is an antique chafing dish without the burner part that goes underneath

[horseshoes]

Talbot, now that is almost plausible!!! It's the EXACT size of a Weetabix.

[grasscarp]

I didnt spot the feet. (sheepishly shuffles over to the chafing dish camp)

[shoota]

The legs are for support on a table, when on a burner it would be supported by a frame:
http://p2.la-img.com/361/16665/5533831_1_l.jpg

[MargoTester]

Horseshoes - the burner would be separate and the dish would stand on it, the type of thing they would have used at places like Downton Abbey. Having said that it is perhaps a bit small, I just looked at the picture and didn't notice the size!

[RATTER15]

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=antique+silver+chafing+dish&es_sm=122&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=jRXvVNriCMz-UM-2g6gJ&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=1680&bih=925