Featured Help me identify this .. Incense holder? Ashtray? Japanse?

Hello,

A while back I purchased something pretty random off eBay. I thought it could have been some interesting cooking device, but once I received it, it started doubting that assessment. The seller didn't have much information about it, other than it came from a family member who was Japanese.

I'm really curious about what it is!

 

PS: Apologies for spelling Japanese wrong in the subject. That was a coffee related incident.

 

I don't know what it is, but just some observations - It doesn't look like it would be for pouring a liquid, hot or cold, as the lip is so broad, and the position of the handle is for the left hand. Perhaps it is a small brazier for heating tools of some sort, which would rest on the wide lip.

 

I have seen this before. It might just be a coal pan.

 

A coal pan! That's unexpected. What were those used for?

 

The figure in the handle is most interesting!!

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But the feet?

 

with the blackening...the wood handle and damage to the lip.....it looks like something was heated up....melted down.....and poured out...... imo

 

Meeker's show a wide variety of similar pans. Link is from their Sold gallery:
https://www.antiqbuyer.com/past-sale-archives/sadirons/panirons.htm

 

Such pan-irons are different from @Bret Truchan's object. They have flat bottoms. They were used to smooth cloth by placing hot coals inside, and moving the heated bottom over the cloth:

http://www.oldandinteresting.com/antique-irons-smoothers-mangles.aspx

 

to smooth cloth.

 

But I guess that isn't what it is for. Hmmmm.