Did you guess correctly?

 It's the bottom portion of what's known as a chafing dish (spray painted black of course :) ), normally used to keep covered food's warm. There's actually a lid and glass bowl and burner that should be with it. The thing is, I see these all of the time with just the metal stand part at the thrift stores. I bought these 2 for $1.99 each at Goodwill. The rectangle one I haven't decided what to do with yet...Some of you guessed that these were other things like a plant stand or candleholder and these could be totally used for that! They have a ton of potential.

Here's where the "happy accident" comes in. 

I had recently bought  a 18 ft. light kit from Ikea (Hemma) for $4.oo, not sure what I was going to do with it. When I realized that the hole for the chafing dish burner was just the right side enough that the light kit fit in there perfectly.It even came with hooks to hang it with. I couldn't resist! I added glass crystals and instant chandelier! 

I had already had the crystals,in fact most of them were on-sale Christmas ornaments! If I added up the cost to make it it was well under $10!

I started looking for other antique chafing dishes on-line and here's what I found.

Think of the possibilities! All of the chafing dishes have a hole in the bottom for the burner. 

Look at these others...

 How cool would those be for chandeliers?!  Spray painted white for a cottage look? What about pink with crystals for a little girls room? And so cheap, and to think I have always passed them up at the thrift stores!

~Jen