Signed, glazed clay pomegranate, meant to hold something small. Mexico?

Mexico? Any guess with the signature? I could not find anything under: URUET. Maybe just an amateur piece.

What would this would be used for?

There are little openings on the side, perhaps small spoons or something fit in?

All thoughts appreciated.

 

Hi Lucille,
Perhaps for two different jellies or salt and pepper or anything else you chose. I would have picked it up and kept. Looks more Swiss or Baltic than Mexico to me. WAG
greg

 

Thanks, Greg. I thought it had an interesting look, too. Appreciate your thoughts.

 

how about garlic?

 

Perhaps from Uruguay. Novelty ashtray?

 

OK, it's 4:30 in the morning, raining outside, coffee in hand, and.......Ooooh, a pomegranate! What's the meaning of that? Hmmmmm....

Over an hour later..........here's what I get~~~~

Rosh Hashanah Honey Pot?

 

I see urvez, but it doesn't help. The sig. looks student-y. The bowl part is divided and pretty shallow, isn't it?

 

http://www.milechai.com/honey-dish/honey-dish-images/10-honey-dish-L.jpg

??????????????

 

Maybe for pomegranate jelly? The little dots are reminiscent of clumps of pomegranate fruit thingies, except for color, but the leaves aren't very close to p. leaves.

Leaves are closer to blackberry, and the little dots could pass for blackberries I guess. But then why shape the outside like a pomegranate?

 

That's no blackberry...it's a bunch of grapes....

 

OK, sure, botany was never one of my strong subjects.

 

With that small hole on the side near the bottom of the "container" you certainly couldn't put anything either liquid or gelatinous or semi-gelatinous or powdery or small grain in it unless at some point it had a small stopper (cork?) that fit into the hole.

And why the "rope" bar/petition across the middle?

That's the strangest thing I've seen lately if it is supposed to be utilitarian.

And if it is meant to be "decorative only" why the hole and the "bar" across the middle?

 

The hole is for air and the bar so the item inside doesn't sit on the bottom.

It's a good guess !

 

The only hole I see is the one for a small spoon?

 

Hi Messi,
There is a notch for each side. It's funny when I first looked at it the leaves reminded me of strawberry leaves.
greg

 

But since it has two sides, two places for spoons makes sense, no?

 

It looks like a pomegranate with grape leaves? I guess the artist was confused? Or....was drinking too much Manoschewits wine

 

OH wait.I see the grapes now on the side of the pomegranite..my excuse are too many pain pills.

 

Thanks for the responses. At least I'm in good company scratching my head over this thing.

Guessing that the holes in the sides are for tiny spoons which implies it is utilitarian.

...Maybe this is a serving dish for ...pomegranate seeds? (... kidding!)

The unglazed, unpainted interior doesn't seem like a good match for anything wet, maybe something drier like sugar or some kind of spice. And something you would need an extremely small quantity of since it is a small reservoir and any spoon that would fit would have to be quite small.

May have to chalk it up as an unsolved mystery.

 

I'm still thinking pomegranate shaped garlic pot.
With vine leaf & grape design..