Chamber pot?

g.m.t.a.

no why

I guestimate it's overall length to be less than 7 inches.

Picture your hand completely covering the handle, and your thumb actuating the lever that protrudes above the lid.

And, Possibly, a butler coming over to you as you relax at the gentlemen's club with some brandy and a cigar.

sounds logical.

Upon closer inspection.

but a receptacle used to dump ashes in from ashtrays.

People would empty ashtrays into it. My parents had one.

You get my voice on your home answering machine.

Back in the day, EVERYBODY smoked.
And if you didn't, you didn't carry on about it to those who did.
However, at parties the ashtrays would soon be overflowing.

A considerate host or hostess would periodically move through the area, emptying ashtrays into the Silent Butler for disposal later.

We have a silver plated one that we used to use.
Yeah, we're that old.

After all these years or is it now a candy dish?

Doesn't smell at all.
(I just checked.)
But there were two candy wrappers in it.
The grandkids were here and Miz t. was explaining to 5 year old Charlotte what that 'thing' was.
So Charlotte wanted to use it to 'tidy up'.

I love it here.

I was up late last night and wanted company ~~> http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018310634

and then this afternoon http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018310938 explains
why I am who I am.

I actually remember my mother reading that poem to me when I was about 8 years old (1973) after I told that she didn't love me.
She made me cry and I've never said that to her since.

you're just a kid.

I never had any children to read stuff like that to.

I think "silent butler" would have been about #43,895 on my list of guesses!

You know, for like eating lobster or something.

With the optional kanutsen valve.

I seem to remember my parents keeping books of matches in theirs.

and used it now and then. I always thought they smelled so bad.