Q: Can you provide any information about this odd item? I've shown it to a couple of dealers who haven't been able to help me. The bottom is stamped "Western Germany" and has a stylized bee mark.

A: You have a pansy ring bowl, a flower holder designed to display small flowers like pansies. It was made by Goebel Porcelain, a company founded by Franz Detlef Goebel and his son, William, in Oeslau, Germany (now Rodental, Germany) in 1871. It is still in business. The stylized bee mark was used from 1960 to 1972. Goebel pansy ring bowls are frequently offered for sale online. We have seen asking prices ranging from $15 to $75.