STERLING SILVER HOLY OIL CONTAINER PORTABLE CYLINDER

WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ECCLESIASTICAL CONTAINER FOR HOLY OIL. HAND MADE AND ENGRAVED WITH A LEAFLIKE PATTERN WEIGHING 2.57 TROY OUNCES OR 79.8 GRAMS. IT MEASURES 3 1/8 "  HIGH WITH A DIAMETER OF 3/4 ".UNUSUAL AS THERE ARE 4 INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS WHERAS MOST  HAVE ONLY 3.  THE SECTIONS SCREW TOGETHER INCLUDING THE TOP TO FORM A CYLINDER. THE CONNECTING LINES ARE ALMOST INVISIBLE. THE TOP SECTION INCLUDING THE CAP IS 1/2 INCH, THEN SECOND IS 3/4 INCH, THE THIRD IS ALSO 3/4 AND THE FOURTH IS 1 INCH. THE TOP OF THE CAP IS NOT ENGRAVED BUT POLISHED AND THE BASE IS SIMPLY MARKED STERLING. NO MAKERS MARK AND I AM REASONABLY SURE THIS IS CUSTOM MADE AND NOT A COMMERCIAL PIECE . IN MINT CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT WITH NO DAMAGE AND ONLY HAND POLISHED TO REMOVE TARNISH,A FEW TINY SCRATCHES ON THE UN ENGRAVED TOP.

ONLY ORDAINED CLERGY MEMBERS ,SUCH AS PRIESTS AND BISHOPS , ARE TYPICALLY AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER HOLY OIL. ADMINISTRATION OF HOLY OIL CAN VARY BY DENOMINATION. ,CONTAINERS WERE PORTABLE AND CARRIED BY THE PRIESTS WITH BLESSED HOLY OILS FOR CONFIRMATIONS, CHRISTENINGS AND LAST RITES, USUALLY THERE ARE LETTERS INDICATING  THE OILS IN EACH SECTION BUT NONE ON THIS ONE ONLY EXQUISITE DETAILED ENGRAVINGS OF LEAVES AND SCROLLS. INSIDES OF THE SECTIONS HAVE A SLIGHT GOLD WASH NOT VERY VISIBLE IN MY PHOTOS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A CUSTOM MADE PIECE AS A GIFT FOR A PRIEST OR A CHURCH AND IS A PIECE OF LOVINGLY HAND CRAFTED SILVER . THE OILS WHEN CONTAINED ARE  BLESSED AND NO LONGER ORDINARY OINTMENTS, INSTEAD THEY ARE A HOLY PRECIOUS GIFT FROM THE CHURCH SIGNIFYING CLEANSING AND STRENGTHENING, HEALING AN COMFORT AND THE LIFE GIVING GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  

THIS CONTAINER NEEDS A SPECIAL RELIGIOUS PERSON OR PLACE TO BE DISPLAYED AND I FEEL IT IS NOT PROPER TO GIVE ALTERNATIVE USES FOR IT.