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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?

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[–] • 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!