Another ID from my local dealer. Here are a couple strange pieces of A&C metalware. No one really knows what they are. They are marked ('something illegible' STICKLEY) on the bottoms. Any ideas? Are they something used for funerals? They are really heavy. I don't think they are actually one of the Stickley brothers pieces but they seem to be period and I don't think they are frauds. I think they are hammered brass.

Steve,

These are cast bronze flower vases to be used at tombstone sites. Note the notched flange at the bases of the vases. This allows you to remove them from the vase and invert them and relocate them into the recess of the in the receiver base that is mounted to the tombstone. Most of the modern tombstones now carry these flower holders. The chain keeps it from being easily lost.

Fred