Followup to "I have no idea what this is..." originally posted 11-21-12 by JAT

[JAT]

Well... a few moments ago I just received a response from an individual who's site I landed on who purchases and sells nothing but opium paraphernalia and other related items - yes I know that doesn't necessarily mean he's the expert of all experts.  Nevertheless here's his reply:  "This item is definiately not an opium pipe or tool. It is high quality and looks like a wealthy persons bed warmer that coals would be placed in. What ever it really is. It is very well made."      

[bigwull]

well there you are then...had all the relevant info been placed before us at the start..instead of in dribs & drabs....speculatio n as to what this was would have been limited....to,."its a bed warmer,for now long dead rich aristocrats...but now it hangs on a wall 

[JAT]

I posed the question to this individual this morning after the possibility of this item being an opium pipe was raised which would not constitute "relavent info... placed before us at the start instead of dribs and drabs."  I am and have been following this site's generous and quick leads by digging further; I am not sitting here twiddling my thumbs waiting for an answer, of which, I still do not know what exactly this item is; I merely obtained an additional possibility as you and others have so kindly and generously given.  Lastly, the only information that I had from the git-go was - nothing other than it being oriental in nature.  Therefore I posted 21 additional photographs and many measurements on this site... 

well there you are then...had all the relevant info been placed before us at the start..instead of in dribs & drabs....speculatio n as to what this was would have been limited....to,."its a bed warmer,for now long dead rich aristocrats...but now it hangs on a wall 

[talesofthesevenseas]

I FOUND ONE!!!  It is a Chinese ladle, according to this site, but I'm not sure they are right. Why put a lid on a ladle? The item above is a silk iron, (you put coals in the bowl and iron delicate silks) which I was wondering if it might be possible that this was a silk iron.

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/3656948

[talesofthesevenseas]

and there are two types of silk irons, one of them is lidded. (See below) I am betting dollars to doughnuts you've got a Chinese silk iron.

[mart]

Mart....made me laugh so hard it hurt!  I agree!!!

you agree...that it could be??...or that you too led a sheltered life?...its either one or the other...

LOL !!  Meaning I am a simple country girl !!  Where does the opium go in and where would it come out ??   When my drug of choice is a cold beer on a hot day,, you just have to lay it out for me !!

[JAT]

OH MY GOSH!  The item below is nearly exactly what my friend has!!!!  Am wondering about the ladle aspect of it and just perhaps its really a silk iron.  Ha!

I FOUND ONE!!!  It is a Chinese ladle, according to this site, but I'm not sure they are right. Why put a lid on a ladle? The item above is a silk iron, (you put coals in the bowl and iron delicate silks) which I was wondering if it might be possible that this was a silk iron.

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/3656948

[mart]

Tales got it !!   Excellent !!!  Now that you told what it is ,, didn`t we have another like the top one a while back that we mulled over for days   Anyone remember

[talesofthesevenseas]

Yes, a few years back we had a silk iron like the one on top come up.

[mart]

Thought so !!  Don`t know why I didn`t remember that fact when this was first posted !!  Getting old I guess !!

[talesofthesevenseas]

It took me a day or two of looking at it to think of silk irons too!

[JAT]

I would like to thank you, Tales, and all who were involved in resolving the mystery of this piece.  You've been great!