What is this?

Hello. What is this? It's ceramic, hollow, #38 on bottom, about 13"H. There is what appears to be a seam on the bottom, but not on the sides, so don't think it's a poured mold unless someone did a fantastic job of hiding the side seams. The hole on top, and the hole that is on the bottom edge (not shown in photo) make me think this used to be a lamp base, but is/was that the original intent? Thanks for any information you may have.

 

lamp base.......

 

Ditto.
38 would be the number of the model or the mold. Manufacturers are experts at hiding seams. It is just that they don't always do it because it can be time consuming.