English blue and white vase what is the style and what are the holes for?

I was able to find out where this vase is from and when it was made and a have a general idea of what it is, but if someone can help me with any specifics and let me know why it has symmetrical holes in the bottom I would be very appreciative. It stands around 5.25" tall Thanks in advance for any help with this.

 

i'm silly................................

 

april 1881....... i think...

 

I wonder if it might be a utensil (spoon) drainer. Put your just washed utensils in there to drain before you get around to drying them. Just a WAG.

 

5 1/4 inches tall.............i should read better !!!!

 

The design is aesthetic period when Japonisme was all the rage. If you can read the numbers and letters in the diamond I can tell you who made it. Sorry I can’t quite make them all out.
Ps I think the holes have been added later.

 

the parcel number looks to be 7........

 

I’ll check April 1881 parcel 7 later

 

There is only one parcel 7 in April 1881 and that was on 23rd by J F Wileman. Check out J F Wileman and they did indeed produce Aesthetic style pieces.

 

I think it may be a toothbrush holder. I have one of slightly different design.

 

I think you are right

 

Agreed. Toothbrushes.

 

Thanks so much everyone. That was so interesting to watch the discussion evolve. I got off on cheese drainer/molds which looked promising for a bit but went nowhere. But now I do have some knowledge in that area and I guess that is part of what this is all about.

 

There is no such thing as wasted research. You never know when you might see something out in the wild & will immediately know it was a cheese drainer.

Just curious @Ownedbybear or @say_it_slowly do these usually have some type of matching underplate?

 

Might have been a shaped under plate or more possibly it sat on a tray with other things. Soap dish, beaker and so forth.

 

Thanks. All I could think of is the mess it would make at the sink.