Tuesday, August 14, 2007

What is this?

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I bought this little thing at the flea market years ago because it was blue and white and cute but I have no idea what it is. My guess would be a butter or cheese dish but it's very small so I'm not sure. I put it by a coffee mug so you can get an idea of the size. The inside is shaped like a shallow bowl. I know someone out there will know what it is!





Feel free to take a guess even if you're not sure!

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Aunt Cindy! My first guess was the same as yours...for butter. However, now I have changed my mind. It obviously accompanies a cup of coffee. My next guess would be it's for a muffin or smaller pastry and covered, perhaps, to prevent it from becoming stale.

ShabbyInTheCity said...

I'm pretty sure it is for butter. I have a few little butter molds that would turn out some cute butter rounds that would fit perfectly in there. So cute!
At Christmas I was at a home for a meal and at each place was a clear little domed one of these...they came from Target she said.

Judy said...

I was going to say butter until I saw it with the mug. I really don't know unless it was for individual butter pats? The more I visit your site (which is almost every day), the more I like your new home. I love blue and it just seems so homey and restful.

linda t said...

Maybe to hid those unsightly tea bags after they are brewed and sqeezed from your tea cup.
Sooo pretty!

joanne said...

My first thought was also that it was for butter pats. But seeing it next to the coffee cup I am thinking how unexpected it might be to hide a few sugar cubes in it! What a sweet surprise!

Anonymous said...

Hi Cindy, I love reading your blog and seeing your latest creations and decorations. I'm thinking this may be something to hold a used tea bag since it has edges that would keep the tea from dripping out--just a guess though. Can't wait to see the real answer.

martha said...

Could it be a cake plate and dome for a doll? My daughter used to have a set of doll dishes something like this.

martha said...

p.s. (Am American Girl type doll, not Barbie!)

a pink-bee said...

It's cute !:)

Abbie said...

my guess is waay off track from the rest, but first thing I thought of was a fish!

I'm weird.

Terri Steffes said...

I think it is for individual butter pats, too but I love the idea of sugar cubes...

Rosemary said...

I also think it is for butter.
That is the first thing that I thought of.
Maybe salt, maybe a teabag???
Have a great day!
Rosemary

Wanda said...

A fresh ball of Mozzarella cheese would work. Probably butter was the fist intent. Very darling. Could really be used in any room, for any small thing....!

Anonymous said...

I have small clear ones ..very similar and they are for buttah:)

tea time and roses said...

Hmmmmmm...the first thing that popped in my head seeing its size, is a wedding band holder... I can imagine this little pretty next to a fair lady's bed along with other pretties of blue, carefully placing her ring in her little dome for safe keeping till morning... Am I alone with idea...

Smiles...

Beverly

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty sure it's a little butter dish. It's really darling. It's amazing how much neat stuff you find.

Lallee said...

That is so cute. I'm thinking like most everyone else~butter pat. I wouldn't have thought of tea bag but that makes sense, too.

Meg said...

It's so cute. My first thought was sugar with one of those tiny little spoons to accompany it. It looks great with your mug, btw!

Casa Mia said...

Wow, how beautiful. My first guess is a tea bag dipenser or to hold sugar cubes.....Love it...

Lisa said...

Hi Cindy The fabric is Tickled Pink by Robin Pandolph...its darker now that Ive tea stained it! I think its a lady's ring holder while she does the dishes! A wild guess! LOL

Anonymous said...

Cindy, Im happy to say I finally did alittle blog page while laying in the bed sick. Your page and blogs have got me threw so many moods. I also collect blue and the piece is awsome! I agree it is for butter, but the teabag idea is great. I hate the mess from bags.

Anonymous said...

I personally think it is a butter keeper-if that is the correct title. My mom had something similar. Not old, from a direct sale catalog based company. Not that she ever used it for butter...I like the nieces idea of using it to hold a muffin. Imagine the delight if you had several and hosted a brunch!!
Elise

Anonymous said...

Hi Cindy.....

I am the other mother of a boy named Vince. Loved his pix bbqing. My Vince just stopped by tonight to visit me (as I recuperate from surgery) and we ventured to the wine store to pick up a gift for a friend. While there, *HE* educated me on wines and vodkas....of the "handmade" sort. Never knew drinking could be so scholarly. In any case, I finally put a blog together....not a decorating one (although I would like to do that). If you have a chance and have some interest....here it is....
http://judifromthismomenton.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html
Also, the lovely little item you have is for "spent" tea bags that you want to use over in your next cup.
As always, love your blog.....
Judi

Anonymous said...

I'm sure it's a "butter dish". I have two the same size and shape in clear glass. I'm thinking they're for individual servings.

In one of them, I put my tiny hummingbird nest. It fits perfectly.

~elaine~
roz_etta@yahoo.com

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I'm with the majority thinking it is a butter keeper....probably an individual one. Very sweet.
Penny

Anonymous said...

i think it may be for a poached egg. It is very cute.

Anonymous said...

I don't know, could it be a finger bowl for dipping your dirty, greasy fingers in after eating something messy. They used to do stuff like that you know. I think they were replaced by sticking our fingers in our mouths :)

Jen Kershner said...

I'm not sure, but I love it and would have bought it too!

The Weathered Pane said...

I agree-a butter dish but maybe for balls of butter. No matter, I love it! And the coffee cup and your blog.

Michelle E. ~ Vintage Pastiche' said...

Gosh I don't know what that cute little thing is, it doesn't look like the butter pats I have. I do have a English butter keeper which is something similar, on a bigger scale *it's not old* so it very well could be that, butter is something you would want to keep covered.

I like the tea bag idea too.

Susie Q said...

I think that all of my ideas have been discussed here already but I think either a butter pat, sugar cubes or used tea bag.

Whatever it is, I adore it! It is just a tiny treasure!

Hugs,
Sue

Anonymous said...

Hi Cindy... Maybe your little dish is for a small amount of honey?? I was trying to check out what pattern is on outside of the top for a clue but can't quite make it out. (like a honey bee etc..) smile

Sandy McTier Designs said...

I'm guessing maybe for sugar or a salt cellar type dish - those usually don't have lids but who knows maybe this one was made to have a lid!hehehe.
When you find out I hope you'll post it for us!
Have a wonderful weekend.

Anonymous said...

OH my dear !! so lovely
Methinks it is to hold Garlic buds -- looks lovely near the stove with your favorite oils , and ready to make lovely cooking smells in the kitchen ---
Seriously ( my daughter had one a little larger and was iron stone --and you could roast the garlic in it in the oven . Don't think it is that type tho --
But holding individual butter is a delightful idea - Kathy

Anonymous said...

Cindy,
I have a set of 6 of these, though not the same pattern. The dealer I bought mine from said they were individual butter holders. They also have a domed lid like yours. I use them with my individual salt cellars too when I have a family celebration dinner or just girlfriends for lunch! I put a tablespoon of butter in the little dish about an hour before the meal so it will be softened and easy to use.
MimiG

Anonymous said...

Actually a very late addition to your site. But I believe it is a butter bell. You fill the top with butter, put water in the bottom. The water seals out the air, the butter stays fresh on the table and soft enough to spread. I have a large butter bell, and individual sizes would have been lovely at each table setting. So that is my guess. You can still buy butter bells at Vermont Country Store and other stores that carry old time products.

Anonymous said...

This looks like a butter pat server. You would serve each guests their own little tray. My mother uses these, (well at least that what she uses them for!) :)

Tra La La Boom De Ay said...

It looks like a European Lemon Keeper. What is the mark on the bottom? I have sold many this size as "lemon ladies" to go with tea settings.

Rhianna said...

They all sound like good uses for it, I think the butter bell is probably right but when I saw it, the first thing I thought of was a single serving jam dish for your morning croisant and tea

eileen said...

I believe it might be a butter boat. I think there was, at one time, another little dish and underneath they put cold water and the butter stayed fresh for weeks as long as it had water in it. Could be wrong.