It might be an oil lamp--the wick would protrude from the little hole in the spout. Some clay lamps had a little ball that held the wick proud of the hole.

fuzebox40's ideas · More Info

fuzebox40's ideas · More Info

I sure don't know what it is....could be for oil....could be a lamp....but most likely it's something that is used in a culture other than ours.
You pour something into the top and pour it in small amounts of the spout....and the "signature" looks like strange script.
Bottom line....I don't know! LOL!

Maybe someone will recognize the language if nothing else.

I think it is an oil lamp. The upper spout could have a stoneware stopper with wick and the lower, small hole would have a conventional wick like ancient lamps. The elongated upper spout also serves as a handle for moving the lamp (provided it was not too hot).

Reference Lamp

I had an oil lamp like that....made for an arts and crafts fair.
This is not that sort of a thing.
The level of the fuel would have to be below little hole.....which would be a long way for a wick to go from the top part to the fuel and for the fuel to soak to provide a flame.
I would have suggested that it's a Betty lamp but for the size of that hole in the spout....

I am clueless.

Are there any marks on the bottom of the piece?

Thinking waaaay outside the box- maybe a variation on the theme of an invalid feeder or a neti pot.

I was thinking along the lines of a neti pot also, but figured the smaller spout diameter would be too large to fit in a nostril.

How about a garden water jug. Pour water into the larger spout, water comes out the smaller spout. Would be good for indoor container gardens where there's not a lot of space.

But from what I can see of the pictures, it looks like tehre is a hole not in the end of that spout but in the top about 1/2 inch back from the tip?? couldn't pour from that.
Maybe it's to let out smoke? Or air?

There are no other marking or inscriptions on bottom or otherwise. I'll try to add a couple more pictures I took with a nickle near the spout for size comparison. The counter top is basic 4" tiles. The spout hole is only about and 1/8" and aprox. the same distance from the spout edges.

fuzebox40's ideas · More Info

fuzebox40's ideas · More Info

fuzebox40's ideas · More Info

fuzebox40's ideas · More Info

fuzebox40's ideas · More Info

Thinking outside the box, bizarrely.

A two tone whistle jug. You blow across the top part and cover/uncover the little hole to change tone.

When some people wander too far outside the box, a part of them never make it back! Careful out there! lol!

The person I bought it from thought it was a bong. Of course it could be used for that if the hole was much bigger, but even then, a person would have to be partial to the taste of bong water splash.

I'm only guessing of course, as I was never a teenager and therefor never used such an apparatus to indulge in the green leafy substance.

There are some very good suggestions here. As you can see in the pics, I did a pour test to see how well it would function that way. It pours fine except you may have noticed some dribble hanging near the bottom of the spout. This doesn't rule out a pouring device. There are many usable items designed more for looks than practical use. I've never heard of a "neti pot" but I figured what that is only because I saw a picture on MSN home page just a couple days ago of someone using one. I thought, what the heck is that guy doing - I don't want to know - move along. At least I know now he wasn't doing something weird with the wife's tableware!

Some type of cruet? It seems like tableware of some sort...

I have what looks very much like the same thing. I spent
some time with a family in Barcelona back in the 60's. They gave me this as a
gift when I left. I can only tell you
what it was used for when it was given to me.

During the last evening and the last meal my host brought it
out with red wine in it. He had pushed a round tooth pick in the small hole. He
then lifted the vase above his head and poured the wine in a very small stream
onto his forehead and made it run down the side of his face into his mouth. He
then presented it to me to try. After many tries and getting red wine all over
my shirt I did it also.

Not sure if that is all they are used for. I never did ask.

Just a wonderful memory that will last forever.

soy sauce dispenser?

Here's a very similar vessel. Porron Vessel

Another showing how to drink from it. Good idea if you have to share a glass. Scroll about 1/2 way down page.How it's done.

How about that..........I knew it all along.............try running it down your face

ITS FUN

It would appear to me that mystery has been solved! At least I'm convinced well into the high 90's percentile. A Porron vessel... Does everyone agree? Oh, and the picture on it always makes me think of Spain or a similar geographic. No if only someone could read it.

I do like wine by the way but I'm not much into wearing it.

My guess, something to do with sake, or salad oil/vinegar. It seems the longer spout is an aerator though. The last name is "Ho", so something of Asian persuasion seems legit.

I'm not entirely convinced of that letter being an "o". It's written starting and ending at the bottom, not to mention pointed at the top, not looped. Which would be most unusual overall. Of course it may be as you suggest but there's reason enough for doubt that it's even written in English alphabet. Look at the first markings for example. Case and point. For the most part it isn't written in Asian symbols either. Though a good portion of it looks English or Latin, I have to say the jury is still out on the text until someone can better decipher it.

However the porron vessel, sake and oil/vinegar dispensers are all legitimate possibilities.

By the way, I very much appreciate the help and everyone's ideas. Please share any new findings or thoughts. I may not find an absolute answer but I'm thankful for where we've got with it.