Tibetan Tea Cup Stand (Nepal)

This cut metal stand, made of maybe tin or possibly a silver alloy, is a simple saucer for tea cups with bases designed to fit into the center section. The eight panels of the platform represent a lotus leaf. More formal versions that sell for up to thousands of dollars are much more ornate and come with matching lids to cover the tea cups and retain heat.
 
Ours is believed to have been purchased in Nepal by our parents in the late 1960s when they lived there for a year.
 
The piece has discolorations consistent with its age. We have not tried to polish it. 
 
We suggest it may be upcycled as a candleholder (which, to be honest, is what we always thought it was) or a pen or paintbrush holder. Just a couple of ideas… 
 
H 2 ¼” x Diameter 4 ¾”
2.5 oz
 
Disclaimer: We have tried to identify what things are online when not obvious. We have tried to make sure colors shown in photos are representative of the real colors of each item. We have tried to identify all imperfections in descriptions, but we may have missed some. If you are unhappy with your purchase, let us know.