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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: kidden6968 on September 22, 2012, 12:03:05 pm

Title: Ok what is this?
Post by: kidden6968 on September 22, 2012, 12:03:05 pm
This is another item given to me last week.  It reminds me of a gravy boat  LOL  It feels like tin and is hammered on inside but has a copper color handle and definitely multi colored verdigris all over.  There is one split in the metal.  Spout to handle this measures 11" and it is 4" wide at widest point.  The base is 4 1/4" by 3 1/4"

It is marked on bottom but so much of it is worn down, I don't know what it says.

As always, interested in usage, material, possible age or value.

Any help is always appreciated.   ;)
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: kidden6968 on September 22, 2012, 12:04:41 pm
One last pic of the inside
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: mart on September 22, 2012, 12:42:58 pm
need to see how that handle is attached and a good pic of the writing on it !!
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: kidden6968 on September 22, 2012, 01:26:50 pm
Ok going to do my best here - have 3 pics of each I believe.  It does look like the writing - which is pretty worn off - could say United Arab Republic - which I think would match the metal however that was only in existence from 1958 to 1961 and the term used until 1971.  This just looks older but I can be very wrong.
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: kidden6968 on September 22, 2012, 01:28:46 pm
Best I can do with these pictures.  Just not real clear so hope they show enough.
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: mart on September 22, 2012, 02:12:48 pm
Well, I would agree with its being made in that area !!  I don`t think any great age to it because they have hand made items for a very long time and still do !!  That is how many make their living by selling items like this in the markets there !!
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: kidden6968 on September 22, 2012, 02:35:30 pm
Thanks Mart - looked to me from the coloration that it might be older.  What metal do you think this is made of?  Looks tin - looks copper - has green verdigris - I can't tell  LOL
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: kidden6968 on September 22, 2012, 02:37:19 pm
Oh and what might this have been used for or how would I even describe it?  Does the handle look soldered?
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: bigwull on September 22, 2012, 06:29:38 pm
i think this was for holding oil...for burning...like an open oil lamp or burner..and it is copper....
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: kidden6968 on September 22, 2012, 07:04:55 pm
Thanks bigwull!!  I am cracking myself up  :D  I have googled a combination of "vintage copper lamp oil pourer, bowl, spout thing, holder"  LMAO  - I'll find something eventually but just haven't gotten the right combination yet   :o
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: bigwull on September 22, 2012, 07:08:00 pm
Thanks bigwull!!  I am cracking myself up  :D  I have googled a combination of "vintage copper lamp oil pourer, bowl, spout thing, holder"  LMAO  - I'll find something eventually but just haven't gotten the right combination yet   :o
well when you find the right combination..let me know..as i,ve got a combination lock and i can,t remember the number.... ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: Evelyn on September 22, 2012, 07:47:45 pm
It kind of reminds me of Aladdin's lamp...
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: kidden6968 on September 22, 2012, 07:51:03 pm
I'll find the number for you Wull!!!  try 1 - 2 - no left 3 - 4 oh nevermind I am confused  hehehehe
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: kidden6968 on September 22, 2012, 07:51:56 pm
Hi Evelyn - I know but it doesn't have a lid  :-\  although I haven't googled open aladdin lamp style something yet  LOL
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: Evelyn on September 22, 2012, 08:35:07 pm
I was thinking of something like this http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5157889 (http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5157889), although yours may not be quite as old :)

(Note to Wull: I turned this up while googling "arab* oil lamp bronze" - dial that into your old combo lock & you should have no problem ;) )
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: kidden6968 on September 22, 2012, 08:51:52 pm
Ok I have looked at about 78,000 images - ok well may only 10,000  ::) and I give up for tonight.

Everytime I look at this it reminds me of a mini coal shuttle except it would be a hanging handle. 

Hopefully I will wake up tomorrow with just the right words in my head - yea right  LOL

I even googled "sauce boat" - still cracking up at some of the words I googled including "looks like aladdin's lamp without a top"

Ok was just kidding about that one.

Nite all.
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: bigwull on September 23, 2012, 05:06:42 am
Ok I have looked at about 78,000 images - ok well may only 10,000  ::) and I give up for tonight.

Everytime I look at this it reminds me of a mini coal shuttle except it would be a hanging handle. 

Hopefully I will wake up tomorrow with just the right words in my head - yea right  LOL

I even googled "sauce boat" - still cracking up at some of the words I googled including "looks like aladdin's lamp without a top"

Ok was just kidding about that one.

Nite all.
aladdins bottom half did cross my mind also....
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: ghopper1924 on September 23, 2012, 06:04:46 am
I have been thinking coal scuttle for kitchen use all along, but it seemed too far-fetched.... ;)
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: bigwull on September 23, 2012, 06:25:04 am
I have been thinking coal scuttle for kitchen use all along, but it seemed to far-fetched.... ;)
coal scuttle for small people......Na it,ll never wash..... :D
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: ghopper1924 on September 23, 2012, 06:44:58 am
You know, I 've actually got a small coal bin ca. 1870 from England that was designed specifically for kitchen use. This "Alladin's Lamp" would work perfectly with that.

Just sayin'
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: mart on September 23, 2012, 01:24:17 pm
Normally tined lined copper items were food related !!
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: kidden6968 on September 23, 2012, 01:28:59 pm
I keep thinking that too Mart and boy does this one have me bedazzled!!!  It resembles the shape of a sauce or gravy boat but that would be a really big sauce boat.  Not sure - just like to be able to state what it is when I post it  LOL   Of course I could just say "Vintage United Arab Republic Copper metal sauce or gravy boat, lamp oil pourer, open oil lamp or possibly a small coal shuttle or a scoop pouring bowl"   LOL 

Believe me - those are the things that have been running through my head   :o :o :o
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: ghopper1924 on September 23, 2012, 03:26:49 pm


"Vintage United Arab Republic Copper metal sauce or gravy boat, lamp oil pourer, open oil lamp or possibly a small coal shuttle or a scoop pouring bowl"

Now THAT covers it!

Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: mart on September 23, 2012, 04:21:51 pm
May be all we ever know about it !! Have you looked on ebay ?? Usually I can find something similar enough to figure it out there !! I figure if I don`t know what it is,, others may not either !!
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: bigwull on September 23, 2012, 04:23:11 pm


"Vintage United Arab Republic Copper metal sauce or gravy boat, lamp oil pourer, open oil lamp or possibly a small coal shuttle or a scoop pouring bowl"

Now THAT covers it!


...have you been on the sauce...."coal shuttle" ;D
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: greenacres on September 23, 2012, 05:39:48 pm
Here's my thoughts, another comment from the peanut gallery lol, I think it looks like it's from A.C. Moore, or Micheals Craft Store. You would put styrofoam in the bottom with fake flowers. Sorry kidden, I've been thinking this the whole time. I'm sure I'm wrong, but I can't help seeing it that way.
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: kidden6968 on September 23, 2012, 05:50:43 pm
Don't be sorry greenacres.  I have actually used some metal containers from AC Moore for a variety of things.  And this might be one of those things that you would have to be holding in your hands.  I have only found a couple items on ebay that were from the United Arab Republic and they have the same patina or appearance. 

It does look handcrafted and not mass produced but maybe it would not have to be to be exported.  One thing I can't figure out - the writing is on the bottom inside the pedestal and yet it looks worn down - almost illegible as if something had rubbed it off - interesting.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-United-Arab-Republic-Copper-Tin-Jello-Bowl-Dish-/300593087481?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fcbe83f9

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-United-Arab-Republic-Embossed-Copper-or-Brass-Pitcher-/320988269778?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4abc644cd2
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: Evelyn on September 23, 2012, 06:38:59 pm
Don't be sorry greenacres.  I have actually used some metal containers from AC Moore for a variety of things.  And this might be one of those things that you would have to be holding in your hands.  I have only found a couple items on ebay that were from the United Arab Republic and they have the same patina or appearance. 

It does look handcrafted and not mass produced but maybe it would not have to be to be exported.  One thing I can't figure out - the writing is on the bottom inside the pedestal and yet it looks worn down - almost illegible as if something had rubbed it off - interesting.
Maybe there was a bronze (I'd expect copper or brass to show more tarnish instead of this nice patina) alloy than was common to metalware made in the UAR? I don't think that part of the world was not very mechanized then (prior to the rise of OPEC) - I expect most things were handcrafted.

Kidden, can you tell how the bowl is attached to the pedestal? I have a wild idea that, if they were attached by some sort of process (like being hammered together while hot) that hardened that area of the metal, the lettering punches would not have marked the harder metal of the attachment as deeply as the softer surrounding metal - which might make more sense than that center area somehow having been worn down.

One of the ebay items gave me another wild idea by having a maker's mark in the bottom of the bowl. Is it my imagination, or is there an "S" (or maybe a snake) in a circle in the bottom of the bowl of your gravy boat/Aladdin's lamp/Lilliputian coal scuttle?
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: kidden6968 on September 23, 2012, 08:10:24 pm
You are right about the letter punches - didn't think of that even insofar as there is a curve to the area where the letters are.  Ok so not worn down.  haha and I really think I am going to stick to the Lilliputian coal shuttle   ;D Even if it doesn't make sense - it sounds pretty cute  LOL

I think this is going to be one of those things there is no clear answer on and I will do my best to post it.  The funny thing is that it isn't worth very much and I have spent hours researching this thing - all out of curiosity. 
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: kidden6968 on September 23, 2012, 08:10:50 pm
Oh and the pedestal base looks soldered on.
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: KC on September 23, 2012, 09:24:25 pm
When I first saw my impression was a gravy boat as well...

Another idea...could it have been the base metal piece that was never plated?
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: ghopper1924 on September 25, 2012, 05:39:05 am


"Vintage United Arab Republic Copper metal sauce or gravy boat, lamp oil pourer, open oil lamp or possibly a small coal shuttle or a scoop pouring bowl"

Now THAT covers it!


...have you been on the sauce...."coal shuttle" ;D



Actually, the "shuttle" part belonged to Kidden...it was a quote.   Scuttle is the word. Now where is that sauce?
Title: Re: Ok what is this?
Post by: bigwull on September 25, 2012, 06:45:01 am


"Vintage United Arab Republic Copper metal sauce or gravy boat, lamp oil pourer, open oil lamp or possibly a small coal shuttle or a scoop pouring bowl"

Now THAT covers it!


...have you been on the sauce...."coal shuttle" ;D



Actually, the "shuttle" part belonged to Kidden...it was a quote.   Scuttle is the word. Now where is that sauce?
i never implied anything else.... ;D...i knew where it originated....