Featured Persian ceramic something? Help please.

My parents bought this ceramic item from a Persian carpet shop in the 1960s, when it was already old. No idea how old though. The shop was known for having a sideline of antique and vintage items.
I was there when they bought it, so I know for sure that it was the 1960s, probably 1966. It was already in the state it is in now, with cracks in the glaze and some discolouration.
I always liked it, and it is one of the things my parents let me have when I moved to a student flat, way back when.

The main question is, what is it? It looks like a footed bowl, but there are some discrepancies.
The bottom is unglazed, the rest is glazed, but there are stilt marks on what looks like the inside of a bowl, presumably the top.
Why is the decorated part on what looks to me like the bottom of the bowl? Was it meant to be on top of something?
And what is the hole for? Drainage? Of what?

Apologies for the blurriness here and there.
Thank you for looking, any help is appreciated.



Pen for size, and another mystery: two small holes in the side of the base, they don't go all the way through:


Unglazed bottom, floral decoration on the 'bowl':


Upside down. Drainage(?) hole on the side of the base, it goes all the way through:


Drainage hole seen from the inside of the base, and three stilt marks on the inside of the bowl. Pinkish rim, glazed:

 

Possibly meant to be upside down as a stand for something?

 

Thanks, that was one of my options as well, but it would have to stand on the pinkish rim. There is no visible wear to that rim.

 

Maybe a candle holder/stand?

 

That is how my parents used it in the past, causing a burn mark on the inside, and a wax spill through the hole in the side. That is the way I got it. It took a lot of scraping and soaking in hot water to get the wax off.
So I think the hole means it is not a candle holder.

I have used it with a tealight on top, high on a cabinet so you can see the decoration and only the flame from the tealight, not the holder itself.

 

Just thinking out aloud . I was also thinking about a tealight or a larger round candle,or maybe that it originally had a glass “cover”. I have seen some candle holders with what looks like a drainage or maybe breathing hole.

Anyway the shape reminds me of:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/franchi-assisi-italian-art-pottery-1734330170

 

Always good.

I don't know in what socio-cultural setting my item was made, but I don't think this was anything as sophisticated as that.

I can see what train of thought led you there. Thanks for searching for me.

 

You are most welcome,but I didn’t achieve much.. Sorry I couldn’t help much with the searching.. You are always so helpful and share your mountain of knowledge so freely.. I have personally learned a lot from you on this forum (so many thanks)

 

Could it be the bottom part of a larger piece where the second piece would insert into the hole?

 

You're welcome, Boland, and I appreciate your help.

 

It certainly could, thanks for that thought, Garydh. I hope it can help our fine researchers here get closer to what it is.

 

By any chance could it have been a soap dish (round soap bar)that would explain the drain holes

 

Hi @Any Jewelry
Hope things are good!
Just a thought, The drain hole may actually be a hole for an electrical cord. Maybe a lamp base?
Mikey

 

Now there's a thought, thank you Lark, I'll do some digging with soap dish as search term.

They're fine, thank you Mikey, how are you?

I don't think so, I can't see any possibility for a socket to be placed in the depression.

 

I am not sure what this is used for (Ilike the idea of a lamp base) but I do not think it was very old when your parents bought it, despite the rustic look, this is typical mid 20th c ware in my opinion...

 

Thanks Mat. I'll look into getting a lamp fitting in there, maybe with one of those large globular bulbs.