We inherited a similar dining room item.
It is a Victorian Pickle Server. It is a beautifully etched octagonally
shaped glass container about the size of a pint jar. It sits on a very
ornate sterling silver frame with a handle and sterling silver top that
has been repaired On the side of the handle are a set of silver tongs,
much like sugar cube tongs, but with longer prongs.
It looks like a mini old ice bucket. I took it to an antique dealer to
make sure what it was and he showed me how the silver lid had corroded
from pickle juice. He said it once had a rubber ring around the jar or
the top - I've forgotten which. It's useless, which is why it's still
around. Just something to polish and dust and talk about.

Libby