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You are here: Home / Vintage Finds / Mystery Items / Mystery Items What Is It 2

Mystery Items What Is It 2

March 4, 2017 by Florence 22 Comments

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Another installment of mystery Items what is it 2. If you’re new here, I publish a mystery item post from time to time when I’m stumped and need answers. In my last mystery post, these three items were up for identification and the general consensus was:

Yellow clown bottles were a promotional circus item originally holding candy…

mystery items what is it 2

This little pile of lead is melted bullets, and/or pie weights….

mystery items what is it 2
Lead pellets

And this is a punch tool for making loop rugs….

mystery items what is it 2
mystery craft tool

…and if you have a burning desire to possess any one of these lovelies, just check out my Etsy shop now!

I carry vintage items in my shop, vintagesouthernpicks.etsy.com. Surprise, surprise! Betcha couldn’t tell! (wink wink) I go to yard sales, estate sales and thrift stores every week.

I found the mystery items at an estate sale several years ago. Bought without having a clue what they were, but figured it would be easy to find out. WRONG! They must be relatively rare because in 4 years, I STILL don’t know what they are. And ya gotta know what something is called to sell it. You can’t just call it “little white china thingies.”

Case in point:

A couple of years ago, I had the below item for sale in my Etsy shop.

It wouldn’t sell. It was dainty and pretty, porcelain, obviously old, not a thing wrong with it and something very appealing. But it wouldn’t sell…and it wouldn’t sell. Like for a year it wouldn’t sell. I couldn’t understand it.

I called it an “Egg Strainer.” It looked like an egg strainer to me. And I thought it was lovely.

One day some kind soul pointed out that it was probably a tea strainer instead. Oh! (head slap). Of course! I changed the title to “tea strainer,” and it sold within a week.

mystery items what is it 2

So you see you gotta know what something is called to sell it.

You can do descriptive searches on Etsy or Ebay and often find what you are looking for, but THIS was a little hard for me. How to describe it…”cup with lid that has holes in it”? Well, frankly I never tried.

It was an egg strainer.

OK, you ready to see the mystery item yet??? I’ve probably blathered on long enough.

Here it is! What in the world is it??

It is helpfully marked “Belleek Willets.” Willets Belleek is an older form of the Irish-made porcelain. Supposedly more valuable. 2″T x 2.5″W

mystery items what is it 2

mystery items what is it 2

If anyone knows, please enlighten me!

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Florence

Owner at Vintage Southern Picks
As an experienced online seller for 19 years, I reveal some of my selling secrets. In my Vintage Finds posts, I show what I buy for resale, and what sells per month. Because many items are vintage and need TLC, I show the refurbish process to make them attractive for resale. I love picking, junking, thrifting, and shabby chic style.
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Latest posts by Florence (see all)

  • The Latest Vintage Hauls - February 10, 2020
  • A Vintage Fall Haul - November 3, 2019
  • September Sales on Etsy and My New Antique Booth - September 30, 2019
  • Camping Trip Thrift Store Haul - August 2, 2019

Filed Under: Mystery Items Tagged With: belleek willets, identification of mystery items, identifying belleek, irish belleek, irish porcelain, mystery items

Comments

  1. kaye says

    March 5, 2017 at 1:58 am

    Egg Coddlers? its hard to tell the size from the pic and they would have had a lid

    Reply
    • Florence says

      March 5, 2017 at 1:01 pm

      Hi Kaye! Thanks for your comment & guess, but don’t believe they are egg coddlers, & they definitely don’t have a lid.

      Reply
  2. June says

    March 5, 2017 at 6:39 am

    Custard cups?

    Reply
    • Florence says

      March 5, 2017 at 1:03 pm

      Custard cups…hmmm, never thought of that. The narrowness of the bottom though, makes them quite top-heavy.

      Reply
  3. kim says

    March 5, 2017 at 7:30 am

    Egg cups?

    Reply
    • Florence says

      March 5, 2017 at 1:04 pm

      Egg cups…I really don’t think so. I believe they would topple over judging from the narrowness of the bottom. If they didn’t topple, they would be unsteady for sure. Thanks for the comment though!

      Reply
  4. Wanda says

    March 5, 2017 at 8:33 am

    Those *are* odd, aren’t they? They look flowerpot-y to me. They definitely look like they’re missing something. Like the saucer. Or maybe they’re some type of epergne or candle cup. They just look like they fit into something to me.

    Good to see you Friday!

    Reply
    • Florence says

      March 5, 2017 at 1:07 pm

      Yes I think they are missing something too…like they’re part of something else, but I don’t have a clue what yet.
      Good to see you too Wanda! I appreciate the tip on the estate sale. Gary & I both enjoyed it, & I’m happy with what I got. Hope you got some things & hope you weren’t too pooped. Would love to know (just curious) what was left over.

      Reply
  5. K.B. says

    March 5, 2017 at 10:26 am

    Hi, they are liner cups for sterling holders as in here:
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-6-Webster-Sterling-Cups-and-Saucers-Willets-Belleek-Liners-in-Vintage-C-/401193151033 Great find!

    Reply
    • Florence says

      March 5, 2017 at 1:10 pm

      Hot dog! I believe you have the answer K.B.!!! You know, I heard tell some time ago that they might be teacup liners, but I was visualizing them sitting in a china cup, which didn’t make sense to me. THIS makes sense! Holy moly, I would never have thought of this. Wish I had the rest that goes with it!

      Reply
  6. [email protected] says

    March 5, 2017 at 11:40 am

    Could they be egg cups? Just a guess.

    Reply
    • Florence says

      March 5, 2017 at 1:11 pm

      Hi Sharon, look at the answer right below yours. Appreciate your comment & guess though!

      Reply
  7. Mary-the boondocks blog says

    March 5, 2017 at 11:47 am

    Whatever it is it is lovely! Could it have been part of something else? It looks like it might be missing a base. Maybe part of one of those round dishes where you put chips and dip. The dip would go in those bowls.

    Reply
    • Florence says

      March 5, 2017 at 1:12 pm

      Yes, definitely part of something else. Scroll down to see KB’s solution. I believe she got it.

      Reply
  8. Linda @ A La Carte says

    March 5, 2017 at 6:01 pm

    KB got it! I thought custard cups but agree they look top heavy. So they are cup liners for metal holders. Gorgeous, I know you wish you had the other part! This was fun! Hugs!

    Reply
    • Florence says

      March 5, 2017 at 6:32 pm

      Oh yes! Wish I had that other sterling silver part!! But at least now I know what they are. Another reader on Facebook had the same answer.

      Reply
  9. Debrashoppeno5 says

    March 5, 2017 at 6:06 pm

    That was very interesting. I am glad K.B. had the answer.

    Reply
    • Florence says

      March 5, 2017 at 6:33 pm

      Me too Debra! So glad I finally found out after 4 years!

      Reply
  10. Pam says

    March 5, 2017 at 6:39 pm

    I would have NEVER thought that is what they are! Good call K.B.!

    Reply
    • Florence says

      March 5, 2017 at 7:21 pm

      Me either Pam! Never would have guessed, but now it makes sense.

      Reply
  11. Keri says

    March 5, 2017 at 7:40 pm

    Oh I wish you had the rest of the set but still they are very pretty! I’m glad K.B. had the answer. This is such a fun series Florence!

    Reply
    • Florence says

      March 5, 2017 at 9:35 pm

      Oh, DO I, Keri! So glad to know what they are anyway. About time! Glad you like this series too!!

      Reply

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