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I found it at an auction in a box lot 20 years ago or so. I jokingly tell people it's a suppository when I hand it to them, just to see their reaction. It's roughly 2" long. The top and bottom unscrew. One side is metal and has cork material in the center. The other side is hollow and made of brown glass. I get the impression that it's supposed to hold liquid, but I don't know. There are absolutely no identifying marks or makers marks on this.

https://pic8.co/sh/2mcU5y.jpg

https://pic8.co/sh/ZrQPUq.jpg

Any ideas?

I found it at an auction in a box lot 20 years ago or so. I jokingly tell people it's a suppository when I hand it to them, just to see their reaction. It's roughly 2" long. The top and bottom unscrew. One side is metal and has cork material in the center. The other side is hollow and made of brown glass. I get the impression that it's supposed to hold liquid, but I don't know. There are absolutely no identifying marks or makers marks on this. https://pic8.co/sh/2mcU5y.jpg https://pic8.co/sh/ZrQPUq.jpg Any ideas?

(post is archived)

[–] • 10 pts

That's a reusable thorium capsule, once used as an experimental intestinal cancer treatment. It was filled with radioactive material, usually thorium but sometimes uranium or radium, then ingested. Obviously they couldn't use gel capsules as the caps would dissolve and the material would come into contact with the intestinal walls. I just made that shit up. Have a nice day.

[–] • 4 pts
[–] • 2 pts

vinaigrette vĭn″ĭ-grĕt′ noun A cold sauce or dressing made of vinegar or lemon juice and oil, often flavored with finely chopped onions, herbs, and other seasonings. A small decorative bottle or container with a perforated top, used for holding an aromatic preparation such as smelling salts. A small bottle or box used for carrying about the person some drug having a strong and pungent odor, commonly aromatic vinegar.

[–] • 1 pt (edited )

In this case they used vinegar to dissolve additional substances which provided a scent. They were used to mask odors in the environment or to rouse someone from a "fainting spell."

[–] • 0 pt

At an old plantation, somewhere in the south, before the 1860's!

"Hurry now Gideon and fetch the smelling salts. Mary Ellen has the Vapers!" And the old house nigger shuffles off to fetch your little "suppository".

[–] • 2 pts

Well I'll be damned

This is incredibly close to what I have. Maybe I have a cheaper version, as it doesn't seem to have ever had a chain and the glass has a moulded thread instead of a metal-to-metal thread. I believe the top to be silver.

Thank you!

[–] • 2 pts

It’s an old opinion container. Back in the day opinions were much more robust and needed to be packaged for processing. I recommend sanitizing.

https://pic8.co/sh/V2LqUh.jpeg

[–] • 2 pts

Zyklon B dispenser?

[–] • 0 pt

Alien probe implant prototype ca. 1846, now they are much smaller, thanks to the miniature munchkins of Dalgas5, out past the Oort Cloud.

[–] • 0 pt

It looks like a coke bullet. Storage device of something

[–] • 0 pt

Is there any kind of filament or residue of a thin wire inside the glass part? Also, does the cork cover the entire surface or does it look like it is just supposed to separate/cushion the glass from touching the metal? Does that cork have a shape like an erect nipple?

[–] • 0 pt

I see no thin wire or residue. The cork looks like it would have sealed on the inner edge of the glass lip the way corking a wine bottle would. The cork material has deteriorated somewhat due to age.

[–] • 0 pt

If the glass portion is hollow, and you can put stuff into it, then I'm going to somewhat agree with you but add this is a suppository for a smuggler.

[–] • 0 pt

It is what they call a Talisman. It was worn as a necklace to protect the wearer. It contained a potion with powers/ability to protect or ward off evil spirts. It was medieval beliefs.

Most likely it was enclosed with a filigree holder with a chain. If not it could have been placed in a tiny pouch with a long cord to be worn hidden under clothing.

A second and later use could have been to hold a poison, concentrated perfume or a medicinal ointment. Again, worn underneath a shirt or blouse.

if you polish the metal, it is most likely pure silver.

[–] • 0 pt

I shined it up with a polishing cloth. It seems to be silver. And to think I implied it was a suppository! Smh

[–] • 1 pt

You should hold on to it and try and find out more. They appear to be very rare. I collect miniatures (hobby) and I have only seen one other which was silver and black onyx. One of my colleagues believe the little containers were handmade for the sole purpose of concealment, to hold opium for a the wealthy or doctor. Another colleague believes that it was akin to the ring that held a poison like hemlock. All good theories, but with such a small container the majority of us think it was a Talisman. The miniatures can sell anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to a couple of thousand. I hope the meaning is not lost to history. We may find more in England's journals. Good find.

[–] • 0 pt

I know he said that half of it was glass, but from the pictures my first thought was that it looked like an tigers eye stone.

[–] • 0 pt

I bet it could be multi-purpose! I live on the east coast of the US, if that's any help.

Miniatures sound neat! It makes me glad that the world is full of unique and wonderful items!