[SustEngineer]

Does anybody know what this is?

[Hunter2]

Looks like a Erlenmeyerflask is modified for a salt cellar or pepper pot.

Probably the porcelan part is a fritt a drip.

[curiouscat]

I'm wildly guessing:

Porcelain = corrosive or high temp.

Maybe some sort of filter paper support like in a Nutsche?

Or a sparger of some sort.

[Arkcon]

I'm with Hunter2:, is it a screw-fit cap?  Then yes, likely something retrofit as a goof.  I just gave away I cute thing I've had -- a raffia wrapped 1 L flask.  For those who love decorative Chianti bottle, but love chemistry too.

Seriously, how are you going to get anything into the flask as its setup?  You'll have to remove the top, put something in, and replace the top.  How will you get something out of the flask, in a controlled manner, except for shaking it and sprinkling?  That is the definition of a salt shaker.

[curiouscat]

How are those two joined?

[discodermolide]

I think the porcelain bit is upside down. It is for filtration.

[Arkcon]

Seems to be joined pretty closely, as if it were threaded beneath.  Without the ability to pull vacuum its not like much will happen when inverted.

[SustEngineer]

The ceramic and glass parts are fused together. It is definitely some sort of filtering mechanism but I can't seem to locate a name for the specific apparatus. It is upside-down in the picture so that it doesn't roll off the table, the glass portion is an open mouth.

[billnotgatez]

Is what is on the table in the picture you provided open like an upside down funnel?

[Arkcon]

Oh, now that you mention it, I look carefully and see, the bottom isn't there, instead there's an uneven, if flame polished, opening.  So, someone needed a high capacity filter funnel, and fused one together from a Buchner funnel and a sawed off glass flask?  If it looks to you like something jury-rigged (am I right, the open lip is uneven?) then it probably doesn't have a name outside of, "that guy's name's jury-rigged filter thingy."

[Ben Bob2]

...Buchner funnel and a sawed off glass flask?  If it looks to you like something jury-rigged (am I right, the open lip is uneven?) then it probably doesn't have a name outside of, "that guy's name's jury-rigged filter thingy."

The catalog number on the glass part is for a standard flask, so I think you're correct.

[SustEngineer]

It looks to be a manufactured piece, the fuse is flawless and the cut at the top is perfect all the way around but now that you mention it, it does appear to be made from a flask based on the labelling on the side and catalog number. Thanks for the *delete me*