They are egg poaching cups, probably part of a set of five or six that fit into a rack which sits atop a large skillet. Fill cups with egg, fill skillet with water, cover with lid and poach away!
They are for wine tasting, for checking clarity. Use right side up for white wine and upside down (as the middle one)for red. Fill the depression and reflect light off of the bottom.
The “tool” I beleive is for cutting the nails of the shoes of a horse once you have re-shoed them. My grandfather had something like it and that is what he told me.
The tool is a fencing plier. It is a multi tool for putting up fences, the blunt side can be used as a hammer, the pointed side can be used to pull fence staples out or to hook the loop end of a fence clip, the jaws cut wire, the jaws hold a nail to pull it out.
These are definately tastevins that the french sommeliers used to use in wine cellars to test the taste and colour of the wine. You can still see waiters in the french restaurants wear these around thier necks, more for tradition than for use.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:19 am
The pictured items are porringers.
June 1st, 2008 at 12:31 am
I think they are olive pit holders-you know after you have an olive and you have to spit out the pit?? just guessing
June 1st, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Such cute little ashtray and snifters!
June 1st, 2008 at 8:34 pm
They are pliers for building fences.
June 1st, 2008 at 9:16 pm
nail puller or nail snip
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:48 pm
They are for poached eggs although I don’t know what they are called. My grandmother had some.
June 6th, 2008 at 6:48 am
They are egg poaching cups, probably part of a set of five or six that fit into a rack which sits atop a large skillet. Fill cups with egg, fill skillet with water, cover with lid and poach away!
June 6th, 2008 at 6:55 am
egg poaching cups
June 6th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
They look like they could be used as individual salt dishes to me.
June 11th, 2008 at 4:32 am
They are used to pour warm water into the chalice during the Orthodox Christian Divine Liturgy (Mass).
June 15th, 2008 at 7:28 am
They’re Celtic… and they’re bowls or cups… the handle is so you can pick it up and drink what’s in it…
June 19th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Salt cellars
June 24th, 2008 at 1:42 am
These are definitely porringers. Good job, Ann.
July 11th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
For wine tasting
July 11th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
coin holders.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Portable drinking cups. They all sit in to each other and the contents of a flask or hipper is emptied in to them
July 19th, 2008 at 10:19 am
They are Sommelier Cups.
July 19th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
They are containers that hold a glass dish that butter is then put in.
Laura
July 20th, 2008 at 7:15 am
They are for wine tasting, for checking clarity. Use right side up for white wine and upside down (as the middle one)for red. Fill the depression and reflect light off of the bottom.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:03 am
They are tastevins used for wine tasting.
July 24th, 2008 at 6:26 am
Maybe they’re used to melt butter in?
July 25th, 2008 at 12:53 am
In our Russian Orthodox church, they are used for sipping warmed wine right after receiving communion.
July 25th, 2008 at 7:10 am
Definitely porringers.
I received two for new-baby gifts. The little dear had very fancy antique-like bowls for his first baby porridge!
Pat
July 27th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Porringers, originally made out of pewter
July 27th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
porringers, originally cast in pewter
August 5th, 2008 at 5:35 am
The “tool” I beleive is for cutting the nails of the shoes of a horse once you have re-shoed them. My grandfather had something like it and that is what he told me.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:10 am
These are for holding teabags after dunking. They usually come with a small strainer that fits over the top. Used in England
September 5th, 2008 at 8:29 am
I believe these are for picking up bread crumbs on the table cloth used with a soft brush.
September 12th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
The tool is a fencing plier. It is a multi tool for putting up fences, the blunt side can be used as a hammer, the pointed side can be used to pull fence staples out or to hook the loop end of a fence clip, the jaws cut wire, the jaws hold a nail to pull it out.
October 1st, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I sold some in an estate sale that I gave. They’re Sommelier Cups for wine tasting. Cheryl
October 27th, 2008 at 8:12 am
They are wine tasters … mostly used by professional winemakers.
October 31st, 2008 at 11:01 am
These are definately tastevins that the french sommeliers used to use in wine cellars to test the taste and colour of the wine. You can still see waiters in the french restaurants wear these around thier necks, more for tradition than for use.
December 5th, 2008 at 4:45 am
They are for poached eggs although I don’t know what they are called. My grandmother had some.
December 10th, 2008 at 10:05 am
the are pewter porringers. if you google that, you’ll see a number of examples very similar to the ones pictured here.
December 12th, 2008 at 6:05 am
egg poachers !! have a set just like them~~
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
salt cellars (agree with #12)
February 14th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Are the little metal cups used for poaching eggs called porringers?
February 14th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Ah ha!:
http://www.boswells-online.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/boswells/_20006045/114124/Six%20Hole%20Egg%20Poacher
February 14th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Here ya go!:
http://www.sallybernstein.com/food/columns/corn/poached_eggs.htm
February 19th, 2009 at 9:55 am
they are wine holders… you place a bottle of wine on them so that the bottle doesn’t leave a stain on the table
June 8th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Egg poaching cups ….sit in holes of a ring over a sauce pan of boiling water
July 15th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
http://www.shirleypewtershop.com/baby-gifts-baby-porringers.html
pewter porringers are small low dishes, originally used by Colonial Americans and Europeans
August 7th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
If they are of a “modern” metal composition then used tea bag holders, my grandma had some she brought back from England in the 1950’s.