Cast iron smelter/crucible

Adore this!  This small industrial  cruicible I think would be for casting small lead objects or used as a glue smelting pot!

There are two parts – which is unusual as they normally get separated at some point.

The bottom section would have held water I presume to keep the inner pots contents liquid as they sat over the fire.

Made from cast iron, I haven’t cleaned this item as I don’t want to remove any of the stunning patina as the iron has rusted and pitted.

Industrial wabi sabi

11cm wide  x 8cm high excluding handles