History documents that people, especially tobacco chewing men, used to sit around in a group and needed to spit. Thus, the solution was a thing to spit in, a spittoon. They were built with a wide, funnel shaped top and heavy base so they would not tip over easily. They were common in public places like saloons, hotels, train stations, and many places during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
I just met this one at a carport sale this weekend. It is made of brass and is very old. I googled it and found out these interesting things about them. It seems to remind me of being a little girl and when I entered some stores for a candy bar some old gents would be sitting and hanging out in the store. They'd stare at me and sorta stop talking briefly. I never noticed but I'll bet there was a spittoon in the midst.
They are also called cuspidors.
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