r/whatisit • u/QuandaleDingle-69420 • 9h ago

Solved! What is this thing? It looks like a pitcher but it’s not.

My grandparents house was built in the 1910’s, and this came with the house when they bought it. It looks like its meant to hold water, but there’s no opening on top. Also, certain parts of it are able to move independently from the rest. If anyone could help me ID what this could’ve possibly been used for, I would appreciate it.

159 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

71 comments sorted by

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108

u/hiddenrealism 8h ago

Its called a ewer its just for decoration

24

u/dewey454 8h ago

I only know that word from crossword puzzles. Four letter words with two vowels and two consonants are popular in them.

4

u/Educational_Echo6855 5h ago

That’s how I know the word too. I thought that it held liquid though.

1

u/davetheneighbor 44m ago

And 'dustable' is too long to fit in a lot of the puzzles.

106

u/Sea_Prep_Tidal_26 8h ago

Ewer ?
I hardly know her !

19

u/Dependent-Ferret2230 8h ago

Hate you. Take the upvote. Lol

3

u/Ban_DeezNts 1h ago

Tissue? I hardly know you.

1

u/NoRecording5456 5h ago

Thank you for this.

15

u/Right_One_78 8h ago

Well, yes, bur many ewers were used as candlestick holders

6

u/hiddenrealism 8h ago

Definitely but his seems a little too wobbly for that

15

u/QuandaleDingle-69420 8h ago

just looked that up and i’m pretty sure you’re right

7

u/QuandaleDingle-69420 8h ago

solved!

1

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2

u/Ken-Popcorn 1h ago

Actually ewers are actual pitchers. This is just artwork

1

u/Butter_Money_2045 37m ago

Or perhaps a trophy for going around the world in 80 days.

13

u/pooeygoo 8h ago

Is there a nut/bolt on the bottom that will tighten it up?

23

u/John_EightThirtyTwo 8h ago

Sculpture mean to look like a pitcher.

41

u/OnYourHonor 8h ago

6

u/psychedelicCyclops 8h ago edited 8h ago

It looks like a pitcher but it's not.

2

u/Mister_Slave1 8h ago

No that’s a pitcher meant to look like a sculpture

4

u/JayMacquarrie2 5h ago

I would use it to operate a secret door.

4

u/Impatient-Hydrangea 8h ago

Is that some kind of cobbler’s contraption for working shoes

4

u/indiefab 8h ago

I’ve used that shoe form. I know what you’re saying, but this isn’t it.

8

u/CaterpillarIcy5592 8h ago

Claret Jug 

6

u/ManyWordsNoMeaning 8h ago

The Auld Mug, aka America's Cup

1

u/RooneyD 8h ago

Thats what I thought it looked like as well

2

u/indiefab 8h ago

Definitely a ewer, but this looks like an Elizabethan roof decoration that can turn like a wind vane.

6

u/[deleted] 8h ago

[deleted]

2

u/Slight-Selection4298 8h ago

Before modern indoor plumbing, ewers were paired with matching shallow basins (ewer and basin sets) to hold water for washing hands and faces.

OP flip it over, is the fill hole on the bottom?

1

u/QuandaleDingle-69420 8h ago

this is the bottom; did they make versions purely for decoration?

7

u/shaaruken 8h ago

Your welcome! O.P. Would probably appreciate seeing the price you conveniently cropped out!?

4

u/2oonhed 8h ago

For resting your balls.
In the olden days it was stylish to rest your balls upon ornate workings of various designs. Each house had their own style. A common invite heard in these times might be, "would you care to rest your balls upon our apparatus in the parlor?" and then people of fine pedigree would socialize in this way.

1

u/Trashedpanda35 1h ago

🧐 Indeed

2

u/oleThook 8h ago

maybe some kinda candle holder with a arm that puts it out or whatever

2

u/yoshilovescookies 6h ago

Shoehorn that thing into being a shoehorn

1

u/000Weasel000 2h ago

Lol... I was thinking the same thing! 🤪

6

u/hextasy 8h ago

Candle holder?

1

u/Sea_Prep_Tidal_26 8h ago

Initially it looked like an
ostentatiously ornate Samovar ..
.

But missing the spigot🚰, so not sure

2

u/wtf70 8h ago

This is my guess as well

3

u/tacolamae 8h ago

Why are you handling it like a crackhead

1

u/Shoddy-Area3603 5h ago

I am going to guess but I think this is a Smith's skill demonstration taking a everyday object and showing just how much skill they have making it as complicated as possible

1

u/MineGreat4660 1h ago

It's a magic lamp. You're supposed to rub it and a genie will come out and grant you three wishes. Good find.

1

u/hotepanon 8h ago

Maybe it was in a pair that was used similarly to an Andiron for fireplaces.

1

u/NoSize2924 4h ago

I can't get past moving it on that wood table. Is it scratching the table?

1

u/Stevieb1227 8h ago

It looks like it used to be a lamp

1

u/Radiance37k 8h ago

A first draft of the Lament Configuration

1

u/Ilovebeingapapa 5h ago

It's an urn. Someone's ashes were in it

1

u/Measiam 7h ago

It reminds me of a cricket trophy

2

u/MessageNeither4010 8h ago

A French tickler

1

u/OkRip619 8h ago

Here a thought incense burner

2

u/CanadianCitizen1969 8h ago

Rub it and make a wish

6

u/CO_Tabitha_Crosaire 8h ago

I'm not falling for that again!

1

u/WellRead1337 3h ago

Doesn’t look like a batter

1

u/zwash3 8h ago

It's called "decor" 🤣

1

u/Trashedpanda35 5h ago

Put a candle in it

1

u/Strange_Account_3828 8h ago

Allahadins lamp?

1

u/MMuhieddine-1973 8h ago

Candle holder?

1

u/GlobalOpposite800 7h ago

Decorative reef