Does anyone know what this is?

[rsmanx]

 

 

[alcoforever]

Is there a prize for the correct answer?

What's it made of ?   How big is it?  What's that darker thing inside the big thing?  What's the darker thing made of?

[donsdetour]

size would help:

And a photo of the bottom of the top part.

[namele365]

puts me in mind of a mortar and pestle

[rsmanx]

 

[toodsmyname]

Looks like a pill crusher to me

[rsmanx]

I put up more photographs.   I bought this at an estate where there were many mcm wood items.  This piece has a hammered brass insert and the thing that goes with it looks like a crusher of some sort but I don't know what it was supposed to crush.  The piece is about 6 inches wide and is made of hard rock maple.  Thanks for your response.  

[alcoforever]

I would have to go with pill crusher as most likely although it looks nothing like contemporary pill crushers now listed on ebay.

[sonomabarn67]

Ashtray with a holder for box matches. The center pushes up the box insert that has matches it allowing one to take matches out as needed.

[dryophelia · Accepted solution]

@rsmanx 

Exactly what it is. 

Similar item-

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-BRADLEY-HUBBARD-ALL-BRASS-ASHTRAY-WITH-MATCHBOX-HOLDER-/15225957184...