Help in identifying maker and item

[Laveritee]

Hoping I can get these images right:




Here is what I have dug up:
Maker: Might be H. Matthews (the second figure is totally unreadable just as it appears on the photo)
City: Anchor for Birmingham
Quality: Lion for Birmingham Sterling
Date: (Still faintly readable in some lights though not so on photo) seems to be lower case "b" or "h" (most likely open at bottom and the latter) and from the shape of the shield (same as for the anchor) either 1901 or 1907.

My next question is, any idea what it is? It seems far too small (2.5" tall, 3.5" diameter) for a compote and I cannot find a similar design in any material. It weighs about 70gms so is quite light. Sadly the stem is damaged but probably repairable.

[oel]

Hi welcome to the forum, perhaps a silver dessert cup for ice cream or jelly/pudding.

Oel

[Laveritee]

I was thinking that, but looking at it on the table it would only take a really stingy portion...just about one scoop of ice cream in serious, practical danger of shooting out of the dish onto the bombazine in a manner both unbecoming and unseemly...I just can't see it working...

What is puzzling me most is that I cannot find anything remotely like the design.

[MCB]

Hello

A use for the item which has not been mentioned is as a salt dish but less likely without internal gilding to guard against corrosion.
The suggestion that the design of the dish is potentially hazardous in proximity to bombazine seems to leave aside the protection afforded by a napkin against the embarrassing escape of a small portion of ice cream etc in the direction of the diner. A practical test would probably resolve the issue. For the purposes of the test bombazine would probably be optional.
Unless another purpose can be shown small pedestal bowls are usually catalogued as nut or bon-bon dishes. Presumably this one carries no patent marks to discover whether it was specifically designed for another use. Until other evidence comes to light and the results of the test are known perhaps the dish should be catalogued accordingly?
Best wishes for the test and please report further.

Mike