Id help

[molonlabe12]

Flea market finds. Wife bought

 

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[HuntinDog]

More info needed.
Does the top with the ring open??
What is it made of??
A picture of the other side and of the bottom would be good too.

 

[Red-Coat]

Just tidying up some blasts from the past (including some very ancient ones), largely for the benefit of anyone searching the site for information.

Seems that the OP never came back to answer the question. Nevertheless, I believe It’s an early tinder box (sometimes referred to as ‘beggar’s box/purse’ which would have contained the accoutrements and starter material for making a fire.

https://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d...ved-wood-tinder-box--wrought-iron-handle.html

If you Google ‘primitive wood tinder box with iron handle’ you’ll see lots of variations but with the same essential size, shape and construction. Mostly the Google hits are from eBay and Etsy sellers, often with descriptions which say they believe that’s what they are, rather than saying it with absolute certainty:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=p...g&ei=SKrOZbGQN9KDkdUPweah-AQ&bih=750&biw=1528

Note that there are minority of sellers claiming then to be antique ‘ghee pots’ from India (ghee is a clarified butter used for cooking, as a traditional medicine, and for religious rituals) but I’m pretty sure that’s not correct.