What is this? What was its purpose?

[Maggie Turnipseed]

This is a piece of American Brilliant Cut Glass
It measures 91/2" long

1. 
   It is hollow and has openings on each end.

This style was more hygienic than the traditional style.

[Audra Blevins]

Maggie,

It is a toddy lifter. Mainly produced in England. Here is a similar one.

Audra

[Audra Blevins]

Here is a description I found on-line of the use: THEY ARE UNCOMMON!!


The toddy lifter was first introduced about 1790, but did not come into wide use until about 1800. It was still a common vessel during the decade of the Regency. A toddy lifter looked like a small decanter, with a bulbous base and a long neck. What might not be immediately obvious was that there was a hole in the base and the top. These devices were used as an alternative to silver ladles for serving toddies or punch and were sometimes also known as punch or grog lifters. In order to use the toddy lifter, the beverage must be presented in a large open punch bowl or serving rummer. The bulbous base of the toddy lifter would then be immersed in the liquor, where it would flow into the vessel from the hole in the base. When the bulb was filled, the server's thumb would be placed over the small hole at the top of the neck and the toddy lifter was lifted out of the bowl. The vacuum created would hold the fluid in the toddy lifter until it was placed over a glass. When the server's thumb was removed, the liquor would flow into the glass without spilling a drop

[MarkyMark2]

I learn something new every day on these forums. Wow.