What is it? Can anyone tell me what this is and how it was used? It is

Question

We got this piece at Goodwill. The top piece fits the bowl perfectly. I was thinking it might be designed to keep food cold when serving by filling the bowl with ice and placing the top part, 'cone' down, into the ice with food on top of it. But, what food??? Maybe a shrimp cocktail? Seems too large for butter.

Shari · Answer

I love mysteries like this! After a little internet sleuthing, it appears to be a piece of hotel silver made by Reed & Barton for the Palmer House Hilton Hotel in Chicago. I even found another one up for auction on the Illinois Goodwill website here: http://www.shopgoodwill.com/auctions/Reed--Barton-Silver-Soldered-Palmer-House-Dish-16924138.html However, what it was used for still remains a mystery since the Goodwill site only calls it a 'serving dish.' Duh! lol. I sure hope somebody else knows because I'm really curious now too!

Lee R · Answer

Thanks for searching for us, hopefully someone will have answers to solve the mystery.

Shari · Answer

If no one else knows either, I happened to think that you could probably email a photo of it to Reed & Barton and ask them. They may have some kind of catalog or record of pieces they made through the years for Palmer House.

Lee R · Answer

Good idea.

Chris aka monkey · Answer

@Lee R okay after scouring the internet for 2 hrs ha ha i can't find one thing that even come close to this...a site called parishotelboutique.com has an avid interest in hotel silver i would contact her and email a picture she might know i would not clean it or anything either you might have something worth a couple hundred dollars good luck and if you find out please post xx

Lee R · Answer

Thank you for looking for me. I have also researched and found absolutely nothing like it either. I will check out the site and definitely update if and when the mystery is solved.

Carol S · Answer

Wow this is an awesome piece! Looks so versitile. Raised bowl, bunt cake pedestal serving dish, candle holder, plate warmer - Jello mold nice find!

Lee R · Answer

Yes, it is certainly unique.  It is an old piece and I would love to know what purpose it was actually designed to serve.

Z · Answer

It looks to me as if it was used as some sort of grill. We have a stove top version that sets over either a gas or electric burner. This appears to have signs of heat damage.

Poshe P · Answer

Looks to me like a caviar dish, with ice surrounding the cone of caviar ~ not that I've ever seen one in the flesh, so to speak.

Poshe P · Answer

Yes, if you try Googling caviar dish, they're pretty much the same design.
And I don't even like caviar...

Liliana Wells · Answer

Try sending pictures http://www.replacements.com. They might be able to identify it. Good luck.

Rosemary Kelly · Answer

Looks like a Shrimp server. You mound crushed ice on top and the water drains through the grates. The cocktail sauce would go in the middle.

Rosemary Kelly · Answer

The Palmer House is still in business in Chicago, maybe call them?

Denise Clemons · Answer

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/hotel-silver-palmer-house-chicago-dessert

Denise Clemons · Answer

One was sold and this is the description; from google.

Emma Santoro-Adkison · Answer

It looks like what my father used to teach me how to arrange flowets for him.when i was a kid.

Emma Santoro-Adkison · Answer

Check old teleflora or ftd 1960's era.

Mariann · Answer

It looks like a container I use for gel burners.  The gel comes in small metal tins and are placed inside the cylinder of your unit.  You light it and set it on your table outside for heat or ambiance.  They are beautiful.  If nothing else, try this.  Hope that helps.

Lynn Mabey · Answer

I THINK ITS A FLOWER BOWL, YOU USE IT TO DISPLAY FLOWERS IN IT! :)

Deanna Hatfield · Answer

If you search 0211-H Palmer House it takes you to the Chicago Hotel Palmer silver collection. In the late 1800's-1900 era http://www.rubylane.com/item/728315-RL-000908/Vintage-Reed-Barton-Hotel-Silver-Palmer

Jim L · Answer

I do not believe that it is a caviar server. Caviar should not be served in any type of 'metal' container...ever sterling. If you notice, it is always served in glass dishes and wither bone, ivory or wood spoons are used to 'spoon' it onto the crackers, toast points or what-ever.

Carolyn Ross · Answer

Looks very much like this Palmer House Shrimp Cocktail serving bowl http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/rare-palmer-house-chicago-silver-shrimp-cocktail

Patricia Brown · Answer

Who cares what it is, I wish it was mine..It is beautiful and you could do all sorts of things with it,especially in the garden.Patricia Brown

Mary · Answer

Could it be an incense burner?  It looks like something I saw at the Louvre in Paris in the Egyptian display

Fran Barrett · Answer

I agree with @Carolyn Ross. The text says 'This is a vintage.....silver plate....shrimp cocktail server....that was made for use at the famous ....PALMER HOUSE.... Chicago, Illinois...It consists of two pieces...the bowl....and the rim insert for holding the shrimp.....The bowl is 2 5/8' in height....is 7' in diameter......and both pieces are marked on the bottom: PALMER HOUSE...International Silver Co.' Below is the picture from http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/rare-palmer-house-chicago-silver-shrimp-cocktail

VeggieGarden · Answer

It looks like a dish used to cook meat. I saw it on a travel channel.

394409 · Answer

I would use it the opposite way and use the bottom as a heating device for charcoal or oil etc. Replace the top and melt your butter in the center compartment and put the shrimp on the grill to cook them. It sounds ludicrous to me as I type this so no laughing okay? Promise? Hey, what do I know?

394409 · Answer

By the way, I have seen caviar served in sterling silver dishes made specifically for that purpose. They also used a sterling spoon to serve it.

Dmp319810 · Answer

Is it sterling or sterling plated?  How does one clean sterling plated items?

What is it? Can anyone tell me what this is and how it was used? It is

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What is it? Can anyone tell me what this is and how it was used? It is

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