This is such a pretty dish and a way to add a touch of "glam" to that rustic cabin décor. The dish is made of heavy white porcelain with a royal blue painted top edge of the lid and base. The royal blue is accented by gold filigree around the outside edges. And on the top - an adorable golden pear with leaves acts as the handle. So fun!

Dishes of this sort were originally designed to hold toothbrushes and would have been found in many homes across the country during the late 19th century. The brushes themselves were made from natural bristles sourced from the neck and shoulder hairs of wild boars and attached to wooden or bone handles. When not in use the brushes would have been stored in lidded dishes like this one. Venting holes in the top of the ceramic lid allowed for air circulation while the tooth brushes were in storage.

I found this dish at an Estate sale. It is still in very nice condition with no chips on the rims anywhere. There are usage marks on the edges I think from the lid being taken on and off. They are like scuffs in the finish, not chips. The rims are still all smooth to the touch. The blue and gold paint is all in really nice shape. There is slight paint loss to the gold paint on the outside rim of the lid. The gold paint of the pear "handle" on top of the lid has rubbed off a bit from handling. The ceramic brackets to hold the toothbrushes are still firmly attached to the base. There are no manufacturer markings. My dating of the dish was derived from the style, the materials and similarity to other items found in my searching.

Today, this delightful little dish could still be used for toothbrushes or perhaps for a razor or soap and would make a wonderfully decorative piece for your bathroom. The blue and gold would certainly add that touch of vintage glam!

Base - 8" long, 3” wide, 1 1/2" tall
Lid - 8 1/4" long, 3 1/2" wide, 2" tall to top of handle. The lid fits securely atop the base.