to wonder what on earth this is?

[itstimeforchange]

An acquaintance of mine posted this on FB recently. Apparently her family has had it for years but no one knows what it is. It's about 3 inches tall and the metal things release apart when you press the top downwards.

I wouldn't have paid much attention except that I'm SURE I saw one on a very recent trip to a national trust place, so it is now bugging me!

Any ideas? I feel sure I should know! The closest idea I have is something for straining veg...

[SaucyJack]

Hardcore butt plug?

[newdaddie]

It's a dalek baby

[SheSaidHeSaid]

It's an oojamaflip

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

It looks like a kitchen gadget. Perhaps you place half a lemon on top to squeeze the juice out?

[SoloDance]

It's a thingymebob

[Allthebestnamesareused]

I think it may be something you put in a saucepan of boiling wster,release the metal parts down to the side of the pan and place veg on to steam them. Early steamer.

[everymummy]

A kong for a Victorian dog?

[anotherpoisonprince]

Late Victorian Doodar. Quite rare I believe.

[frieda909]

Does it have any markings on it? A manufacturer or the place it was made?

[nerdgasm]

I work in a museum and we get emails asking us to identify stuff like this all the time! I can't offer anything very helpful on this one myself but if she emails some pics to a museum then someone should be able to help! My wild guess would be that it's made in the 60s or 70s but it's difficult to say much without seeing more photos of the different sides, what it looks like open etc.

[itstimeforchange]

Hmm, i might have to ask her for more photos then!

newdaddie Baby Dalek is the favourite over here, too.

[fedupwithmyself]

Could it just be a part from and old machine of some kind

[cleanasawhistle]

My OH thinks you would run butter,cheese or pastry past it to leave a curved edge pattern.
Pushing down on it would change the angles

[nympthinyellow]

I'm sure it's a steamer as someone else said, my mum has one very similar bit it hasn't got the cream bit in the middle. Same idea though, you put down the metal bits, but in the pan and put your veg in it to steam. I think anyway

[dontbesillyhenry]

An ancient Egyptian speculum?