Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

French Antique Guessing Game

guessing game

 

Okay for those who have been following my blog, you know how these French Antique Guessing Games work.

-Take a guess in the comment section.

-If you do not know what it could be make a wild guess in the comment section.

-The first person to answer it correctly wins a surprise and the one I deem wildly creative receives a prize too.

 

 

 

Guessing game

 

This object is not mine. When I saw it I had no idea what it was used for. I am still doubtful of the answer, all I could say was:

"Really?"

The object is tarnished, silver, French from the 1700s.

 

 

 

Guessing game corey amaro

 

It measures larger than a grapefruit, how is that for a girl who doesn't think in numbers.

Take a guess, I will reveal the answer on Saturday.

The photos are not mine, I will reveal the site when the answer is revealed.

Comments

79 responses to “French Antique Guessing Game”

  1. Linda P.

    A room deodorizer, to be filled with scented oils or potpourri?

    Reply
  2. Julia – Vintage with Laces

    It’s a container to keep a false set of teeth over night. Back in the 1700s there was no dental hygiene. Therefore, those false teeth smelled really ugly and needed to be ventilated, so that the owner wouldn’t faint when opening the box in the morning.

    Reply
  3. Julia – Vintage with Laces

    Or it is just a container to keep a sponge.

    Reply
  4. Lorrie

    My guess is an incense burner. Or a cage for a pet lizard.

    Reply
  5. Lilly

    How about a finial that you can keep your house key in or if you need to burn insense in the house you can do that inside the finial too. Sits atop staircase post.

    Reply
  6. Lilly

    or a snuff box?

    Reply
  7. Laurie

    Hi Corey,
    Maybe a box to hold the hair cleaned from your brush. My grandmother used a little porcelain box that looked something like this-not as big though. She was born in 1899 and I guess that was something they did back in the day. Maybe because they used these clumps of hair for adding poof to different styles or for springtime bird nesting-nothing went to waste.

    Reply
  8. Sharon

    Hello,
    This beautiful container holds string/yarn so the it doesn’t get all tangled up.

    Reply
  9. carol

    a 1700’s collander! Strain your pasta, rice, orzo, rinse your veggies!

    Reply
  10. Laurie SF

    Powder shaker for one’s wig.

    Reply
  11. robin williams

    Looks like two bunnies kissing on the front, so its a teeny, tiny bunny hutch-but the opener looks like a mustache. So different hair pieces for a man and a vain one at that.

    Reply
  12. Marilyn

    Someone already said what it is, a string holder.

    Reply
  13. Kathie

    My maternal (i.e., non-Portuguese) grandmother saved her hair brushings for “rats” too, to add volume when she wore her hair up.

    Reply
  14. Kipper

    To hold lavender .

    Reply
  15. Jacklynn Lantry

    String/thread holder, incense burner or potpourrie holder?

    Reply
  16. Jacklynn Lantry

    I love the “powder shaker for one’s wig” response!

    Reply
  17. Jacklynn Lantry

    Ok, I’m making another guess…upon further reflection, maybe it is used for different kids of yarn or string. The little round holes just above the mustache? Maybe they each held a different color or type, like for making lace?

    Reply
  18. Nancy H

    I Love This!

    Reply
  19. Patricia

    It’s a lovely holder for a ball of string!

    Reply
  20. Toni

    well, my original thought was pot pourri, like others.
    I am going to say a humidifier to put on the radiator or some heat source to add moisture to the room in the winter.

    Reply
  21. Frank Purrkins

    Cricket holder. Nature’s music box.

    Reply
  22. Debra

    Isn’t it the container for burning incense priests use during mass? It is waved around the congregation during mass?

    Reply
  23. LauraInSeattle

    A “frog” – you know one of those things florists use to hold individual stems of flowers. It goes in a larger vessel – a pot/vase/bowl.

    Reply
  24. g

    I think it looks like a moustache on the front so I think it held shaving crème and a brush or some sort of grooming (men) thing

    Reply
  25. Tongue in Cheek

    I could see that, but nope.

    Reply
  26. Tongue in Cheek

    That is a clever response, but nope.

    Reply
  27. Tongue in Cheek

    I like the cage idea.
    Nope.

    Reply
  28. Tongue in Cheek

    Pretty key holder, but it would have been to small back in the day of keys that were larger than a grapefruit.

    Reply
  29. Tongue in Cheek

    The ones I have seen are usually in wood, or bone.

    Reply
  30. Tongue in Cheek

    Good thinking, but no.

    Reply
  31. Tongue in Cheek

    Oh “rats” that is where the word comes from. My Portuguese family called tangles in your hair “rats”.

    Reply
  32. Tongue in Cheek

    Oh I can see that with the holes on top…. but not this one.

    Reply
  33. Tongue in Cheek

    Maybe for one person… but no.

    Reply
  34. Tongue in Cheek

    I love all these well thought out replies, and they are all so clever and possible. But no.

    Reply
  35. Tongue in Cheek

    Take about “where is Waldo?”. I didn’t see that until you said it.

    Reply
  36. Tongue in Cheek

    Scent holder, no.

    Reply
  37. Tongue in Cheek

    They have all been said, clever indeed and possible but no.

    Reply
  38. Tongue in Cheek

    Good try.

    Reply
  39. Tongue in Cheek

    You always have a good response Ms. Roach Clipper.

    Reply
  40. Tongue in Cheek

    That is what I thought.

    Reply
  41. Tongue in Cheek

    Pretty idea.

    Reply
  42. Tongue in Cheek

    So many thoughtful guesses

    Reply
  43. Patty g

    Powder puff holder

    Reply
  44. Sharon Nicholes

    Ok one more try….. It is a pomander

    Reply
  45. Sharon Nicholes

    Ok yes I know I said one more try…. well I really need two more guesses. It held a round ball of soap and a sponge. The holes allowed the sponge to dry. Please tell me I’m correct.

    Reply
  46. Claudia

    If it was not for the size, I’d say, a tea egg… (well, in that case it would be a giant tea infuser. Or a container for spices for a giant bowl of stew.)
    On the other hand, it might be a small cage for a fairy, with the holes for ventilation.
    Or a container for fireflies, to have some light in the darkness of a warm summer night…

    Reply
  47. Cindy

    It’s a pomander ball — you fill it with a good smelling potpourri of citrus and cloves and cinnamon and hang it in a room to make it smell wonderful.

    Reply
  48. NancyO.

    It’s to hold good thoughts…they can float out the tiny spaces when you need them.

    Reply
  49. Marlena

    Scent diffuser for lavender or more exotically frankincense or myrrh…..

    Reply
  50. Anne

    Is this a incense burner?
    Anne Germany

    Reply
  51. jend’isère

    Well, if it is larger than a grapefruit, it is then to hold a grapefruit. ‘Pamplemousse pomander’_say that 3 times!

    Reply
  52. Kathleen Liedlich

    Though larger, it looks like a Chinese cricket holder used because of a belief crickets bring good luck.
    Then again, it could be an incense burner used because of a belief in good v. bad aromas.

    Reply
  53. Sharon Kasner

    Is it a watch holder or jewelry holder?

    Reply
  54. Sharon Kasner

    One more guess, a candle holder for a night light?

    Reply
  55. Debbie Z.

    It looks like a fabulous antique jewelry box to me.

    Reply
  56. Andrea

    I am a little silver bowl, you see my face and my wonderful moustache. I am very proud of my moustache, go ahead make me happy and hide some secret treasures inside me and I will smile. Oh and can you give me some gentle loving polishing, I am feeling a little parched.

    Reply
  57. Julia Thelen

    A bowl, for sugar cubes?

    Reply
  58. Hilary Nourse

    Container to hold communion wafers.

    Reply
  59. Kathleen

    First thought was a pomander too,but now would it have been used as an ashtray ?

    Reply
  60. Evelyn

    This was going to be my guess too! Funny!

    Reply
  61. SARAH WEBB

    pin cushion??? or………
    a container to hold stars so that when they shine, they shimmer thru the holes???

    Reply
  62. SARAH WEBB

    table lighter??
    something that was filled with crushed walnut shells to sharpen your pins and needles??

    Reply
  63. Janice Smith

    Darn – I thought it was a pomander container also but non!
    Pretty whatever it is – you always have the most unusual items to show us.
    Could it have contained poison for insects – kept in the kitchen? But NOT silver plated.

    Reply
  64. Sue H

    Part of a desk set to hold sealing wax?

    Reply
  65. Jennifer

    A special place to keep all your lovely dreams, mixed with a wee bit of lavender, set next to you bed. Guarantees a sound and refreshing night’s sleep, every single night.

    Reply
  66. Irene Thomas

    A gentleman twirls his mustache after dipping his fingers in the scented wax contained within the sphere shaped container on his commode, anticipating his lover’s kiss….

    Reply
  67. Judyo

    A decorative container for jewelry.

    Reply
  68. La Contessa

    TO WARM YOUR HANDS!

    Reply
  69. Frank Levin

    I am amazed no one has spotted this wonderful storage container for garlic in the kitchens of the rich. In the distant past garlic was only available to the rich so they displayed it with their treasure. In the day this container would have been be kept gleaming so as to impress those not fortunate enough to own this wonderful taste enhancer. Those who had garlic would spare no expense to maintain the freshness of this wonder.

    Reply
  70. Suki Tutthill

    A “gift ball” legacy to pass on.

    Reply
  71. Carol L

    Okay, since someone said they saw bunnies on the front my guess is a bedside diaphragm holder? Or how about smelling salts container for when the doctor tells you the rabbit died?

    Reply
  72. Karen

    I think it’s to hold mustache wax!

    Reply
  73. Karyn

    Sugar shaker.

    Reply
  74. Brenda Locklear

    I think it’s to hold yarn for crocheting…

    Reply
  75. Brenda Locklear

    …or maybe crickets…

    Reply
  76. Terri N Texas

    Cricket box for live crickets.

    Reply
  77. WR

    I’ve seen butter domes in that shape and approximate size. There would be a glass thingy that fits inside to put the butter on… but the holes…
    Must be an antique barbecue for Barbie!

    Reply
  78. Nancy R. Smith

    Baptisimal—for holy water?
    For melted wax—as one would use for shaping a moustache?
    To hold and serve boiled eggs?

    Reply
  79. Momof5

    No clue! Look forward to your answer.

    Reply

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