Elephant Can

[newnewnewmann]

This is about 6 inches tall x 3 inches wide and uncleaned; it used to have a little chain connecting the elephant lid to the inner metal tray to pull it out.

There are no markings and it has some rust stains on the tray.  The can looks like copper. Do you have any idea what this was used for?

[maxine*j]

Old betel quid container?  Wild guess.

[newnewnewmann]

That is a wild guess! I have no clue...thanks!

[gone_4_good]

tea caddy? For powdered tea?

[maxine*j]

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wrote:

That is a wild guess! I have no clue...thanks!

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Any time I see a vaguely Asian item with three or four compartments, I think "betel quid!"  

They say a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

[argon38]

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wrote:

it used to have a little chain connecting the elephant lid to the inner metal tray to pull it out.

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So you wouldn't have been able to lift the lid without pulling that tray thing out as well? I'm not sure I'm visualizing it properly.

[mountaingigi]

Look at antique metal humidors - there are some that aren't much larger than what you have. Not saying that's what it is, but  maybe.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Cigarette caddy?

Here's a very similar one (with the chain intact). Those old school unfiltered cigarettes were pretty short.

LINK    https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/58741434_cigarette-tin-caddy-with-an-art-deco-elephant

[maxine*j]

Nailed it!  Absolutely.  Even the same tooled leather as OP's.

For you...

[Anonymous]

Aw-shucks, thanks! My only hesitation and the reason I qualified my response with a "?" is the design seems a bit awkward to me. I guess the trick (or skill) would be to not pull the holder all the way out of the can and risk an adult's game of pick-up-sticks.

[gone_4_good]

well done!

[maxine*j]

I understand your hestitation to use one example as final, but I think the identification is correct.  I have seen many novelty cigarette "dispensers" that are rather silly, awkward things.  But what fun is a simple box? 

My own family had several such things, back in the day when smoking was common and considered normal and perfectly okay, rather than a failure of character or a crime.

[newnewnewmann]

Excellent! Thank you for the link. That is very informative.

And thank you all for the ideas.

[newnewnewmann]

The caddy in your link is not only similar but identical! I will have to do some research into who manufactured these. Same old leather wrap and chain set-up. The lid fits very snug. I was wondering about the pull out tray too; I can now see cigarettes in there and dispensed very gently!

[maxine*j]

But do keep your eyes for a nice betel quid holder.  

Oh, like this one, say:
http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/lot.283.html/2013/art-imperial-india-l13502