This is a copper coal scuttle.
Fortunately for our lungs and the sake of the planet, heating with coal is a thing of the past for the most part. I have only seen five things in my life where coal was used: my grandmother's basement had a section to store coal; I have ridden on coal powered trains; I saw a tannery in the Czech Republic using coal to heat the building in winter; I walked up to a pile of coal in China that was being used to warm water to wash seashells; and now this coal scuttle that I found at a flea market in Milnerton, South Africa.
I had no idea what this was and my friend had to explain to me that it was used to carry coal. I was impressed by the copper work and its overall beauty. It will make a lovely addition next to a fireplace, as a planter or other craft item, or as a historical artifact.