Featured What is this?

What is this thing and what is this used for?

 

Can we see the whole of the rod in the middle?

Should be a frame (or holder) for something like condiment set. We'll need measurements.

Plus does that little extra thing in the one section come out or not? Can we see a closer picture of it?

And there should be glass (probably) inserts for the 3 sections.

 

Just one more question (yeah right) are there any marks at all? Where did you find it?

 

@Bakersgma, it’s a winged & hooved something or other.... there’s a second one closest in the picture......oh! First image looks clearer.....winged horses looking like they might be movable???

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I know - but I want to know if it comes out or is permanently attached.

 

I like it whatever it is! It may be drinks related, and the pouring-type rims being purely decorative features? Each cup may have had glass liners, or held decanters/bottles. The 3 Pegasus elements/salts are not integral to the larger piece, either.

 

Decanter stand for 3 bottles, with 3 individual salts.

silver decanter stands - Bing images

 

The little horses (pegasuses) look like they’re freestanding to ME! How about it, @Lennyt......ARE they freestanding??????

 

Indeed they are. They are not integral to the main piece (see above)

 

Ritzy - a picture of a random item off the net is not helpful. JMHO of course.

 

?????
See the attached link too! The photo is of help in this instance. It provides good food for thought in trying to establish what the item is.

 

...

...and another "random" picture It's a 3 bottle decanter stand.
Antique Victorian Silver Plated Triple Decanter Stand Tantalus 19th Century at 1stDibs

 

I didn't need the link, thank you. It would help more to have the OP answer the various questions or provide the information requested.

 

Maybe it would, however the OP may not be able to provide more photo's or to answer specific questions, and besides there are numerous times when such information isn't required. Like when an item has been identified and when The OP's original question has been answered...

 

My wealthy aunt in Ohio has one that my cousin would use to serve her playmates glasses of tea. Notice the extra circle for a dish? That was where she put a silver sugar bowl with sugar cubes and in front of the horse on this one was where the lemon slices were placed. I always thought that was the way it was supposed to be done--totally different than the way we poor folks in Florida served tea.

 

It's an oil cruet stand. It would have had bottles that could free stand but were bulbous in form. If it is an early example (late Georgian) the bottles were sometimes in Bristol blue or green glass, but they also came with clear bottles. The bottles held flavoured oils, dressings, balsamic, that kind of thing. The free standing items would likely be for salt or mustard (mustard was served as a dry powder), the styling is around the 1830/40 period, but such items also became popular again during the late Victorian/Edwardian period and the majority we see today are from this period.

This made be smile, I get the sentiment, but images you find while searching for something aren't usually random these days, you find them because someone went to a lot of trouble and/or expense to make sure you could find them.

 

It would be interesting to have the OP provide more details. Presumably the small horse/shell attachments would have held spoons so perhaps jam or caviar rather than bottles?

 

They would most likely be for salt or dry mustard powder, caviar is usually served in bigger dishes which are also cooled.

 

That does look like a spoon under the Pegasus at the front. It’s very nice, I’d look after it