i don't know. i'm still baffled by it...lol.. i googled india brass jug, spent hours researching tourist trade metal jugs and can't seem to find anything remotely like mine. i have googled the suggested assyrian and babylonian and the pictures during that time period seem to match even the more noble king in a chair receiving gifts seem right on key. i'm not suggesting it's hundreds of years old but i think whoever created the jug had that time period in mind. my next step, as RJoe suggested, is to bring the screw to a local hardware store and find out the pitch. if confirmed "oldish" i will drive out of state (in my spare time) and bring it to an antique dealer in New Orleans. other then that, i'm basically clueless... thanks so much everybody for all your help with this. if someone is reading this post and has a clue to what this might be, please don't hesitate to contact me and put my mind at rest! lol..