What-is-it Question CLXXI

[dognose]

We haven't had one for a while, so here goes.



Looking for the accepted correct name for this piece and what it was used for. Bonus points if you can identify what the letters (C, S, and I) marked on the lid stand for.

Trev.

[2209patrick]

Hi Trev.

How big is it ?

Have a hunch it was used by a bartender, but I'm not sure.
The letters on top would indicate the different ingrediants to be mixed when poured together.

Pat.

[dognose]

Hi Pat,

I didn't put the size in as I was quite certain that the book I got the information from did not say, but on re-checking it does give the size, it's 3.2 cm in height, I hadn't realised how incredably small it was.

Apoligies for possibly misleading anyone.

So, no, not a bartender's mixer!

Regards Trev.

[silverport]

A kind of coins sorted deposit?

Hello all

It's maybe a kind of coins sorted deposit for coins of several diameter?

And the letters stand for the name of each unit?

Without having own British cultural background, it's a guess.

Kind regards silverport

[2209patrick]

3.2 cm. = 1.26 inches, that is small.
Was this item made in England ?

Pat.

[salmoned]

I'd guess an old London CSI evidence container ;)

[dognose]

Hi all,

No, it's not a coin container, nor an evidence gatherer!

The piece shown was made in Scotland, but according to my book they were perhaps more popular in Canada.

Regards to all.

Trev.

[silverly]

Googling turns up mention of a mead cup and trinitarian symbolism. Although to me the piece looks like some sort of baking tin.

[agphile]

I was tempted to guess wildly at a travelling condiment container. S for salt, C for cayenne, but I..? I am stumped.

David

[silverly]

Just because there is such a thing and don't ask me why, how about a triple snuff box.

[2209patrick]

Found an 18th century triple snuff box.

Have a hunch Trev's piece contained something that was not perishable.

Pat.

[dognose]

Hi all,

Well these are all good guesses, but I'm afraid you're all still way off the mark.

This item would have been used by a person following one profession and the item would be used at three different rituals.

This question was always going to be a tough one.

Regards to all.

Trev.

[silverport]

Hello

Have these combined tubes each a bttom?

Kind regards silverport

[dognose]

Indeed they do, as each cylinder holds a liquid.

Trev.

[salmoned]

Okay, it's an anointing oil holder. This is from wikipedia:

"The Roman Catholic Church blesses three types of holy oils for anointing: Oil of the Catechumens (traditionally abbreviated "OC"), Oil of the Infirm ("OI"), and Sacred Chrism ("SC"). The first two are said to be "blessed", while chrism is "consecrated"."

[silverly]

Strictly from the deduction in the light of salmoned's fine answer and not from any genuine deduction of my own, I am going to guess again that it might be called some kind of ampulla.

[dognose]

Well done guys. I think we're just about there.

Apparently this type of item is known as a chrismatory.

Here's the explanation, as taken from Harold Newman's 'An Illustrated Dictionary of Silverware'.

Chrismatory
A type of sacred vessel in which is kept the chrism (the consecrated oil, mixed with balm, which is blessed in the Western Christian Church by the bishop on Holy Thursday). Some examples are in the form of a cylindrical receptacle with a screw cover surmounted by a cross, especially in Catholic Canada. More often it is a container for three small flasks for sacramental oils. Such containers are of two types: (1) an oblong box with a sloping lid and having a plate fitted with three holes for the flasks, or (2) a trefoil container for the three flasks. Examples were made of silver or silver gilt, some elaborately decorated, especially in Canada. A variant type is fitted with crystal flasks having silver mounts. A Scottish silver example in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow, has three joined receptacles, each marked on its hinged lid with an identifing letter - C, S, and I (for Olium Catechumenorum, Olium Sacrationis, and Olium Infirmorum) - for the appropriate oils to be used for, respectively, confirmation, baptism, and anointing the sick. Also called an 'oil stock'.



Thanks to all.

For details of the Burrell Collection see: viewtopic.php?f=43&t=19832

Regards Trev.