This I believe s a urn of some sort. My mother bought from a cafeteria in houston tx that she worked at when it was closing. she paid 25.00 for it. It was purchased from a castle in europe in the 1960"s. My mother thinks it came from a castle in germany, not sure where in europe. it is 18 inhes long 10 inches wide and 11 inches tall. It weighs about 30 lbs. I believe is made of iorn. I am not sure.