eBay

07462 · ‎07-26-2018

Would any one happen to know what the purpose of this porcelain piece is? It measures 3-5/8" tall x 3-5/8" across the top.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions you can provide.

janetpjohn_la · ‎07-26-2018

Pretty sure it's to keep your grapefruit from attacking you.
Janet

md1919 · ‎07-26-2018

that would be a very small grapefruit (3 1/2 inches?)

lacemaker3 · ‎07-26-2018

Maybe this was for holding a damp sponge, used for wetting stamps.

Might have been part of a desk set.

janetpjohn_la · ‎07-26-2018

Yes, I would have to destroy a couple of grapefruit to see how that worked. I don't think the half would sit all the way under the hooks; maybe they bit into the rind. A messy job, and my bp meds don't work with grapefruit.
Janet

lacemaker3 · ‎07-26-2018

I don't think I have ever seen a grapefruit small enough to fit into this cup. Most grapefruit are around 5 inches in diameter. Even cut in half, it wouldn't fit.

A lemon maybe, or a small orange. Or a damp sponge for wetting stamps.

Anonymous · ‎07-26-2018

The hooks must be exceedingly fragile. Seems like it would be risky for food service. Imagine swallowing one of the hooks along with a bite of food.

Also, the groove on the base along with reddish residue suggest it may have sat atop something else. Just some guesses.

I see the Elite Works was in business until 1936 importing porcelain for the American market.

janetpjohn_la · ‎07-26-2018

Here are some more: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-elite-limoges-hand-painted-1852333275 The sponge holders wouldn't come in sets.
Janet

johnnycb09 · ‎07-26-2018

Maybe to hold ice cream from sliding around? I know when I was growing up and people used to make their own ice cream,it was harder than stuff today and was always a pain trying to scoop it with the spoon.

leathernlace · ‎07-26-2018

An egg cup?

lacemaker3 · ‎07-26-2018

@janetpjohn_la wrote:
Here are some more: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-elite-limoges-hand-painted-1852333275 The sponge holders wouldn't come in sets.
Janet

Agreed, you wouldn't need 5 sponge holders. I was thinking maybe it would be in a set with a letter holder, and and a pen rest or something like that.

Here's another one, but this seller doesn't know what it is for either:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-UNIQUE-Antique-CITRUS-CUP-BOWL-W-SPIKES-Limoges-T-V-France-HANDPAINTED...

... I couldn't find ANYTHING like it! If you can share a little info regarding this, I'd love to learn more. This cup/bowl has three little spikes inside that point down. I can assume this was to keep something down from being poured out, but not sure what... tea, french onion soup... no clue. Searched for a lot of time & found nothing similar. ...

If it is a citrus cup, then I could see it holding half of an orange. Maybe they used to eat them with a spoon like a grapefruit.

But you don't need spikes when you're eating a grapefruit.

The diameter is really too small for a grapefruit, and too large for an egg.

lacemaker3 · ‎07-26-2018

Here's another seller who called them citrus bowls:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-J-Mc-D-amp-S-Limoges-Rare-Stem-Citrus-Bowl-w-Spikes-Heavy-Gilt-Pa...

Anonymous · ‎07-26-2018

How about small bowls for individual flower arrangements at each place setting?

A piece of floral-foam or sponge would be placed at the bottom and float up, becoming hooked onto the prongs. Then flowers could be poked into the foam. Just some ideas.