Germany Brass Smoking Set Item - What is it for?

Hello Everyone - I recently acquired a brass tray and some cigarette or cigar related items. One item has me a bit baffled. It is a kind of small urn. It stands 3" tall and about 5 1/4" across. It has a bar down the center and I can't figure out what the bar is for. It is marked Germany on the base. Any help is much appreciated!
Don

 

Tap the ash off on? Make sure it goes in the ash tray and not on the table.

 

It's deep enough - maybe it's for cigar ash instead?

 

Cigars? What else?

 

I don't see that as any kind of ashtray at all.

 

Hi,
I agree not an ashtray but a tool to remove excess cigar ash.
greg

 

Might be a vintage pipe ashtray. Similar items can be found with an internet image search.

Debora

 

so....show some !

 

Thanks, folks! I've never been a cigar smoker and I thought they produced more ash. The bowl is only about an inch deep. It suddenly dawned on me that a shot of the whole set might be helpful (I usually get there - it's just that more and more I'm taking the scenic route!).
Don

 

A similar idea. This one tips dumping the ashes under the ashtray.
http://www.terapeak.com/worth/rare-...d-brass-smoking-stand-smoke-set/152050897083/

--- Susan

 

Smoking set with tray, match holder, cigar/cigarette cup, and ash receiver, most likely early 20th century - can probably dig up some period advertising...

~Cheryl

 

1907:



1915:



~Cheryl

 

Well now I've seen it .....so I'm on board......

 

ha ha...Dragon !!!
We were looking at the same time...just in different places !!!!

 

Thanks to all! I really appreciate your efforts to help me figure out what I have. It's a nice set - the tray is VERY heavy. Now I know I've got all the pieces and their proper terminology!
Don

 

Have a number of ads, etc. showing ash receivers/ashtrays in my files, from late 19th into mid 20th century - they're often misidentified if they don't have cigar/cigarette rests...

This shows that rests were a novelty in 1895:



~Cheryl