Playing the "What is This?" Game

I've been told that this is SAJ25 Pattern but can't figure out exactly what the construction of the piece itself is meant for. Can't find anything like it online, either.

List of guesses:
- a vase
- a gravy boat
- a sugar bowl (sans lid)
- toothbrush holder
So now I'm posing the question out into the void of the World Wide Web in hopes that someone will know.

   

UPDATED 7/18/2011 with much better pictures.