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

[mazie]

Mustard dish ?

[shoota]

Silver reacts nastily with mustard. Should be served in pottery or glass and 4"x3" is a heck of a lot of mustard.....

[mazie]

Could be missing it's glass innards shoota...I have one (not the same as horseshoes) with the glass part missing

[Robinia]

Isn't this the same? On Etsy they have it listed as a crumb keeper, silent butler....ash tray, jewelry keeper, or change keeper

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/6b/ba/eb/6bbaeb71a7a12b6ad89255378b23151a.jpg

[cupid04]

Silent butler ashtray looks similar. I can't do links ;-(

[shoota]

Could be a silent butler: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=silent+butler+size&;biw=1178&bih=516&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=JRrvVNjwAeqt7garuYCADA&ved=0CCAQsAQ&dpr=1.16#tbm=isch&q=silent+butler+

[retrocop]

A silent butler, sometimes called an ash butler, is a small container, often of base metal, sometimes silver or silverplate, with a handle and hinged cover, used for collecting ashes or crumbs.[1][2] They were more common prior to the modern period, and enjoyed some popularity as a home construction project in the US.[3][4][5] They are now often considered collector's items, or are valued for their retro appeal.[6]

Forgive my vanity but I do like the reference to "retro appeal" at the end. :-)

[Retrochic]

Its too small to be a chafing dish - its a crumb/silent butler.

[Peter Pedant]

If it in fact one of these



then it is a sweet meat warmer or as Margo says antique chafing dish

depending on the date they can be quite valuable

[Canary42]

This thread's more exciting then Antique Road Show - keep it going folks.

[Retrochic]

what can you chafe in something the size of a pack of cards? Peter - that video of a toasted cheese maker is not the same as the OP -it has no legs

[stuey]

It's clearly a UVO.

[Retrochic]

no stuey it more likely a UEO

[shoota]

Unidentified Victorian Object....

[Captain2]

Never mind what it is, is it hallmarked? Brass tacks time, is it worth anything?

[Retrochic]

I would guess edwardian -or george v but if its silver it will have a date mark

[Retrochic]

Horseshoes if you describe or photo the hallmarks I can date it for you and tell you who made it and where it was made

[horseshoes]

No there's no hallmarks! To definitely electro plate. Looking at the link provided by Shoota, I can now 100% state it is a Silent Butler! No, I don't think it's worth very much but the box it's in is beautiful; just cardboard but so elegant from an antique and jewellery dealer in Grange-over-Sands.

Thanks for ALL your replies and suggestions.

[horseshoes]

Oops I'm so sorry Robinia, your link was first to suggest Silent Butler.