Likely from the last 1800's this piece may be been a decorative glass holder. Filled with glass China pigment vials for painting China dishes, each contain a cork. Some may have worn or loose labels or label residue. As with all vintage paint products, they are not for human consumption and should not be available to children.
Letter shields:
MBC: Stands for Meriden B Company (or Meriden Britannia Co.), a prominent American silver manufacturer founded in 1852 in Meriden, Connecticut.EP: Stands for Electroplated, meaning the item features a thin layer of pure silver applied over a base metal rather than being solid silver.
