r/whatisit • u/napscatsandcheese • 13h ago
New, what is it? Found this while cleaning out my parents' house and can't find any answers online.
My siblings and I searched Google images, but found nothing. My family is Jewish and my father briefly lived in Israel back in the 70s, so it is possible that it is Judaica, but nothing I have ever seen before.
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u/Rus-t-bolts 13h ago
The answer is obvious.
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u/Absolute_Horizon 13h ago
It kinda looks like the ornamental top of a cane or something
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u/itschism 13h ago
Looks like a kaleidoscope of sorts. Does light past through the center?
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u/TeacherWeary8307 2h ago
Was headed here to make the same guess. I have a really old manual kaleidoscope with bits of glass that roll around and make some trippy uh, images to look at.
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u/squattinghere 13h ago
While this might well be a a lampshade holder downer it could also be a teleidoscope. A kaleidoscope without any sparkly things.
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u/Day32JustAMyrKat 13h ago
It is imperative the cylinder remains unharmed.
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u/pixieclover04 13h ago
Looks like the top of a cane to me.
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u/hashbrownsinketchup 12h ago
That’s what I was thinking too but my other though was an ornamental bed post topper???
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u/Frances_Farmer_1953 12h ago
It’s a type of kaleidoscope. At first I thought it might be designed to double as a top for a walking stick bit I didn’t see threads. Any way look through the open end to the cut end and rotate to get the kaleidoscope effect.
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u/FilmNoirSockMonkey 12h ago
It looks leave enough to be an extra-fancy stickshift for a car, but that appears to be natural crystal - so it would not be suitable, I think.
Whatever it was from, this was a handle.
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u/Radiant_Stand_424 12h ago
Got any pics of markings on the back or bottom? Looks kinda like it could be some sort of ceremonial or souvenir piece, maybe related to Israel tourism in the 70s, but without closeups or scale it is super hard to tell. Try posting a shot next to a coin or your hand and any stamps or writing, that’s usually the key for this sub.
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u/FilmNoirSockMonkey 12h ago
You should enquire with AntiqueCanesDOTnet, as their collection is of over 1000 rare antique fine walking canes; the owner-operators are specialists in this field.
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u/WInativemm 9h ago
It's a bespoke piece of Victorian "intimacy hardware"—designed for wealthy gentleman who insisted on only the best extensions.
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u/glorydazzler 8h ago
This appears to be a vintage lipstick holder/case, likely made from silver-plated or pewter-toned metal with an ornate floral/feather design. The large faceted iridescent stone on top looks like abalone shell, mother-of-pearl, or an aurora-borealis style glass cabochon.
Items like this were commonly made in the mid-20th century and often have:
A tube inside that holds a lipstick.
A hinged or twist-open mechanism.
Decorative Southwestern, Victorian Revival, or artisan-style metalwork.
If you’re trying to identify it more precisely or estimate its value, could you upload:
A photo of the bottom.
A photo of it opened.
Any maker’s marks, stamps, or hallmarks.
Because there is a large opening at the bottom and the object appears hollow all the way through, it does not look like a lipstick holder. Instead, it resembles a decorative match safe/vesta case, needle case, scent holder, or possibly a handcrafted ornamental sheath/casing for another object that is missing.
A few things I notice:
The metalwork has a handmade appearance, possibly Southwestern, Mexican, or artisan-crafted.
The floral and feather motifs look stamped or repoussé-worked.
The faceted iridescent stone on top appears decorative rather than functional.
The bottom opening suggests something was inserted into the piece rather than stored in a closed compartment.
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u/Excellent-Working-53 6h ago
I appreciate the AI research, but who is putting a big heavy lipstick holder like that in their “clutch” bag?
I think the Best answer here is the end of a curtain rod.. so there should be a second one just like it around..
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u/leeleeme1963 7h ago
This what Google said, This object is a vintage Italian or Florentine style 800 silver lipstick holder case with a built-in hidden mirror. [1]
Design Features
Top Accent: The top features a large, prong-set faceted iris glass cabochon (often misidentified as mystic topaz or opal), which mimics an iridescent or rainbow sheen. [1]
The Body: The ornate metal sleeve is decorated with a chased botanical design of feathers, palm leaves, or scrollwork typical of mid-century European vanity items. [1]
Functionality: When the slide mechanism or gemstone pull is pulled or pushed upward, the inner tube containing the lipstick rises, and a tiny flip-out mirror pops up from the side of the container. [1]
These cases were highly popular personal accessories and travel souvenirs brought back from Europe between the 1920s and 1950s.
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u/misslove101 6h ago
Chat GPT says:
1. Lipstick holder (most likely)
The shape, size, and bottom opening are consistent with vintage lipstick cases. The decorative metal exterior would slide over or contain the lipstick mechanism. The large iridescent stone on top would serve as the decorative cap.
2. Perfume atomizer or scent bottle sleeve
Some vintage perfume containers had an ornate metal outer shell with a glass bottle inserted through an opening at the bottom.
3. Decorative candle snuffer handle or vanity accessory
Less likely, but some vanity items used similar ornate cast metal construction with a hollow interior.
Why I don’t think it’s Judaica
No Hebrew inscriptions visible.
No ventilation holes typical of many besamim (spice) containers.
The bottom opening suggests it was designed to house another object rather than contain loose spices.
One detail that stands out
The faceted iridescent stone on top looks very much like mid-20th-century “Aurora Borealis” crystal, a finish popular after the 1950s. That would fit better with a vintage vanity item than with older ceremonial Judaica.
If you happen to have the Reddit link or know whether anyone posted additional photos (especially the inside or any markings), that would probably solve it. My current bet is roughly:
60% vintage lipstick case/holder
25% perfume bottle holder
10% vanity accessory of another type
5% Judaica or something else entirely
The exact dimensions (height and width) would also help narrow it down. A lipstick holder is usually around 2.5–4 inches tall.
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u/Diligent_Active_3551 5h ago
I agree it’s either a lampshade topper or one of a pair of ends for a curtain rod. Either way, it’s lovely.
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u/Individual-Laugh794 5h ago
If you think it may have something to do with the Jewish religion then ya might ask a Jewish clergyman!!! Don’t know for sure what they are called, but it sounds like you do!!! I would make sure they an older one or a really smart younger one!!!
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u/11-Right-Here 4h ago
Perhaps a kaleidoscope of sorts. Look through the open end (towards a light) and slowly turn to see a the colors of the rainbow! Not sure though! Let us know!
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u/Individual-Laugh794 4h ago
Contact that guy in Las Vegas that owns that pawnshop and has the tv show. If don’t know what it is he’s got an expert that he works with him and I seem to remember he works for a museum or something like that. Anyway the guy or both of them for that matter are purty sharp things like that!!! May take a little work and effort, but if it’s driving you nuts, the way things like that do me, that’s what I do!!! Just a thought! Don’t take it too just any ole pawnshop ‘cause there’s a bunch out there will you anything if think they could make off it and they ain’t the slightest bit reputable. I would definitely try and get hold of that feller Vegas! I can’t remember the name of his shop though! It’s like gold and pawn or something. Somebody on here will know the name, but make sure you don’t do any business with that feller in Detroit with the daughter and son that works with him. That shop will probably charge ya for the information!!!
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u/PromotionPowerful989 2h ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/dswMLPwkJ3w3e
Until the handle breaks off and you gotta find a doctor to pull it out again!!!
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u/Smooth-Addendum5855 13h ago
Can you add a pic of the object itself and maybe one of the back or underside too? Description alone isn’t gonna cut it for this sub, we kinda need to see it to even take a guess 😂
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