Topic: Beautiful mystery glass piece

[needtoknow]

I need assistance please. We bought this beautiful but unusual item. It 91/4" in diameter. It is ivory/milk glass/custard color??? - edges seem more iridescent which is the only area you can see light through .  No no visible makers, mark, etc.  The knob does not have any threading in it on the underside. Have been to numerous antique dealers in a few states and no one can seem to tell us what this is. If anyone can help identify this item and/or the maker it would be greatly appreciated. Just as a side note we have found only one other identical to this in our internet searches.  It was 71/4" in diameter and the owner had no idea either as to the use or maker of the item.  Thank you.

[chopin-liszt]

Hi and welcome to the board. 
Thanks for some great pics, posted directly here - wonderful!

It looks like opalescent milk glass - and it looks as if it's a lid for something.

(The opalesence is the "fire" you see inside the glass when held to the light - this is created by the use of potash or arsenic in the molten metal.)
Sorry I can't help more.

[Paul S.]

interesting piece...................and Sue may well be right about the lid suggestion.          I've looked through Belknap's book on Milk Glass, although regret I'm no wiser.          If the diameter is the size you say, then if this were a lid only, the missing part may well have been quite substantial - I won't go with the lid suggestion just yet.
Is there any wear on that part (the curved underside) where it would sit on a surface?         
Any possibility that it might be the top half (the dish part) of a compote.............or   might it be simply a stand alone dish with a raised centre (for nuts).................or     possibly a lemon squeezer dish of sorts with a moat to catch the juice and pips.

[chopin-liszt]

I was thinking more of a large storage jar - for something that needs kept dust free, but not dry or sealed. Something kitchen-y.

[Anne]

Thinking sidewise, could it be a part of some kind of lampshade?

[Paul S.]

Anne  -  you're making light of our suggestions.

[Anne]

I was trying to be illuminating, Paul!

[Fuhrman Glass]

I would vote for it being lighting ware or possibly the top piece on a floor smoking stand. it reminds me of some stuff that was made by Victory Glass, Jeanette shade & Novelty or maybe even Smith Glass. probably from the 30's or 40's. Is the metal knob solid brass or zinc plated?

[obscurities]

Personally I am going to vote for a little vanity tray, like for pins, or rings or some other frilly kind of accessories...   

My experience is that "lids" generally do not go down into the mouth of something they are covering.

[David E]

Base of an epergne?