Can anyone please tell me what this is? I bought it at a thrift shop and they had no idea what it is either.
Thank you.
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Yes, this is a crumb catcher or "silent butler". Waiters used to carry a little matching whisk broom and sweep bread crumbs off the tablecloths into these at fancy restaurants.
It looks like a pan you could cook two different things on over a campfire
That is what I was thinking too, except the dish appears to be made of silver. I don't think the silver would do well over an open flame. It also doesn't any holes for steam to escape, as you would see in a popcorn popper or chestnut roaster.
I wonder if it is a serving container for something that would be extended for the guest to remove something (cigars, appetizers?). I did some searching and didn't find anything that resembled it easily.
Maybe take it into an antique shop in a larger city and see if they have any ideas.
It's a beautiful and interesting piece. I hope you enjoy it.
I believe you have what is called a Butler's Ash/Crumb Collector.
These were popular in the past and were used to collect/empty ash trays and sweep crumbs off tables.
If it is a larger size it could have been made to empty ashes from the fireplace.
Here are a couple of examples from eBay.
www.ebay.com/
www.ebay.com/
www.ebay.com/
Yes, depends on the size. Could be for cigarette butts if its smaller but fireplaces if it is larger. Definitely for ash.
It is a vintage (possible antique) bed warmer.
www.ebay.com/
This was probably a man's because he would have a longer arm reach than the women (so it has a shorter handle).
People used to fill them them with hot stones and then run it under their bed sheets and hop in to a toasty bed on a COLD COLD night!!!
There is a wiki devoted to them:
en.wikipedia.org/
They sell all over the place on line--check to the eBay sold section and you can see some sell in the mid $20s....you probably won't find an exact match to yours since these were work horse items and often they had the handles replaced, or hinges replaced.
It is a neat find!! People now a days use them to decorate walls in their cabins!!
Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you!
I think you are right about the bed warmer.
It is a neat-o piece!! I am looking forward to learning more.
Does it have a silver mark on it or is it plated?
I am surprised the plated ones are all unsold at the moment on ebay (although it is just now getting to be bed warmer weather). Here is a link with all the unsold ones--with asking prices all over the place:
www.ebay.com/
If it is real silver, it may be of more value as scrap. Silver values are low at the moment, so if it is silver, hold on to it and watch the market would me my suggestion!!
My guess is a crumb butler, judging by its size relative to the sticker. The decorative knob by the handle is so that it could be opened with the flip of a thumb, leaving the other hand free for sweeping crumbs, ashes, etc., off the table.
It is possible that you have a bed warmer but probably not.
I still believe this to be a "silent butler".
My reasons may or may not be correct.
He stated that a bed warmer had a long handle as it was used to slide up and down the bed (under the covers) to warm the bed before it was used. Most older bed warmers had a perforated top so the heat could escape but that changed to solid tops later on. Most bed warmers were brass, copper or tin.
He said there was also something called a "foot warmer" that had no handles and was placed at the foot of the bed.
Here is a link that he furnished that has a lot of information about bed warmers.
www.oldandinteresting.com/
I believe that many of the sellers with listings on eBay and other sites think the short handle similar containers are bed warmers so that is how they list them.
Here is one listing that tends to try to catch anyone looking for a bed warmer or a silent butler (but it is a silent butler).
ancientpoint.com/
Most silent butlers were made of silver plate or silver but some were more decorative and were made of other materials.
Here is a link to listings for "silent butler" on eBay but you will not find any long handled bed warmers here.
www.ebay.com/
Here are your images for silent butler on Google.
www.google.com/
Cool, good research, Cybergrannie. Thanks for explaining the difference and helping us figure out what this is. :)
This was bugging me as my thinking it was a bed warmer was the flat bottom. I have sold both and the rule I was taught was crumbers always had feet and usually had the little brush or scraper. No feet, smooth bottom and it was a warmer. The handle size was irrelevant... women used long, men short.
eBay's blog votes with cybergrannie and crumber and they say it is primarily in the handle length:
ebaysellingcoach.blogspot.com/
Not only did I learn something new, but I am surprised I got good feedback on the warmers I sold that were crumbers. I guess the buyers liked the look and that was all that mattered. Wow! Sadly my teacher is no longer with us...so I can't debate it with him.
No matter what it is a neat-o find!!!
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