What would this be ?

[olikara]

Originally Posted by fernando

Thank you for your words and for returning to the forum, Olikara; your presence here is so much appreciated.
And ... what do you think is the purpose of this device ?

It is a powder horn. It isn't thin because it is made of Brass not horn or steel. I would place this piece among the same group of Brass articles that still come up in and around Mysore, Madurai, Tanjore like dagger hilts showing zoo-morphic forms with blades, mostly bad ones attached. The period in my opinion would be mid 19th to late 19th C. Even early 20th C cannot be ruled out.

[fernando]

Thank you for your comments. I am surprised that this is a real powder horn; it is rather heavy to carry, has no spout to pour the powder and the screw in the base is rather loose. I would understand if it were a decorative object to resemble a powder horn, but not the real thing .

[Victrix]

I would imagine it’s an object to contain something of religious significance in a temple. The cow is a holy symbol in India. Not sure why anyone would put that on a gunpowder horn. It might have been used to contain oil or spices or something like that? Also, how would it have been stored? I guess it must have been held by some specially manufactured base? There are no specific rings to hang it from.

[fernando]

There is a hole through in the back knob and an orifice (not through) in the mouth, where you could screw a little hook, so that a hanging chain could have taken place.

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[olikara]

Originally Posted by fernando

Thank you for your comments. I am surprised that this is a real powder horn; it is rather heavy to carry, has no spout to pour the powder and the screw in the base is rather loose. I would understand if it were a decorative object to resemble a powder horn, but not the real thing .

I still believe that this is later piece and a powder horn, probably for the rustic householder who would have used the powder to shoot anything from Duck to Wild Boar. Else, it could have been used as a Lime box to store lime which would be spread on betel leaf and chewed as 'Pan'. But such pieces usually have a small chain with spoon/needle near the lid to remove the lime from the box when needed. Lime boxes have been found in may shapes but zoomorphic forms are rare but not unknown.

[fernando]

Noted !