✅ SOLVED Stumped on ceramic piece - wife got at thrift store

[Kentuckiana Jones]

We thought of different possible uses but I feel like this was made for something specific. Can't find a match on google. 4" tall as pictured and 3 5/8" in diameter. It could also be used upside down from what the photos show but my wife insists it isn't used that way so......
edit to add. I didn't show bottom because there is nothing there. No marks at all. No sign where it was made.

 

[Jeff H]

It's an old timey butter container. My wife has one. I think you stick the butter in the big tea cup shaped part and water in the decorative piece. Then you place the piece with the butter into the base with the water. Something like that . The water acts as a barrier. So it would sit on your counter like as shown in the top left pic.

 

[DCMatt]

Jeff H is correct.

I have one but when I put fresh butter in it, after a week or so it starts to smell like cheese... Not good...

 

[A2coins]

I agree with what they said just pretend I said it lol. Cool old relic They don't make stuff like they used to!!!

 

[Kentuckiana Jones]

Thanks everyone! I will mark it solved. Sometimes I think this section of the forum is the single best resource on the internet. Better than Google usually!

 

[jewelerguy]

I had tried looking for an answer and never could come up with anything. Following Jeff's ID, I looked and it's more specifically a French butter jar

 

[Kentuckiana Jones]

Yeah after Jeff ID'ed it I found dozens of them including the same one I posted. Here it is https://www.butterbell.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/300x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/q/aqwh_web_new.jpg
So it isn't old but not a bad pickup for $1