Cigar Ashtray?

I'm told this is a "Three Finger Cigar Ashtray". It is 3.5in tall and very heavy (about the weight of a full 2ltr bottle). I saw it at an online auction and was very drawn to it. It is marked "Spode". I think it will be my first piece in my new three finger ashtray collection! It's really quite unusual, asymmetric with the odd cut sides sort of frosted. I have looked online and have not found any other photos of something like this. I paid almost nothing for it, and it is now priceless to me.

If anyone has ideas on how to further research this item (to get the age, etc) that would be much appreciated.