Post #151227 by Doctor Z on Tue, Apr 5, 2005 7:15 PM

Kono--
I've got the same one as your orangy-colored one, 'cept mine is a deep dark brown with metallic gold paint on his teeth, eyes, etc. - much more 'Treasure Craft'-like, I'd say. Mine also is standing completely upright, not 'leaning over' a bit (why is that? I've seen slumping Coco Joe's stuff many times, but never a piece of ceramic!)( Or does it just look like it's leaning over to me?) Otherwise, it's the same piece. Mine doesn't have any markings at all, just a metallic gold sticker in the recessed part that says simply "Morro Bay, Calif."

I, too, have seen it described as a condiment server and also as a nut/candy dish and as an ashtray, but I sincerely doubt that is the real purpose of the recessed area: it does tilt when it's lying face down and the recessed area is just too small to really be of any practical use. Besides, why would you want to use it if it had to be face down? Unfortunately, other than that, I have no clue as to the purpose of the recessed area, and J$'s theory sounds good to me!.