This is a fabulous 1930s silver plate sugar dispenser.
It takes the form of a large silver egg with a button that you depress on the top - and three tripod feet. The dispenser was made by Elkington - and is the silver plating on it is called Cardinal Plate.
It is a perfect accessory for a 1930s High Tea or Cream Tea Event.
You screw the shaker open and fill with sugar - and to release the contents - you hold the shaker over your cup - press the button on the top and a little measure of sugar comes out of the covered hole in the bottom. The dispensing mechanism works just perfectly.
It is in lovely vintage condition - with no losses to the silver plate - and it is beautiful and shiny with scratches. or nasty dents - there is one tiny pinhead size mark to one side - but that is the only issue with this very fine dining accessory, which is now about 90 years old!
A most elegant sugar shaker. It measures almost 6 inches in height - and is about 2 1/2 inches wide.
The cover on the base of the dispenser reads: Cardinal Plate 37806 Patent No 408295.