Does anyone know what this is?

[WinnerWinnerChickenDinner0]

I picked up this item at a house clearance today. I love it but have no idea what it is 😂

Any ideas?

Does it extend? I think it's for scraping ash out from under a basket style fireplace.

Rake for the fire place? To get the ash out before sweeping and re-laying the fire?

Pretty pattern!

I don't know what it is tbh, but I'd guess that it is some kind of rake for the ashes in a grate. Used to be common to have a set of tools (brush, rake, poker etc) near the open fire for use.

Hope someone can come up with the proper use, like a mini antiques roadshow!

To clean the fire place?

Backscratcher?!

Does the brass knob at the end of the handle pull out? What does the key on the handle do? Could it be some sort of spray?
It's beautifully made.

It’s lovely isn’t it.

The handle screws off and the knob acts as a tap so I guess it would have been filled with liquid of some sort.

At the end there is a slit where the liquid must come out and a sort of fabric in between

I’m totally baffled

Don’t think it’s fire related
The handle isn’t very long and the comb teeth are quite short and close

Also the angle of the combs doesn’t seem very useful for a fire place

I've no idea, but I like it!

Oooh, wonderful. I'm going to guess it's some sort of hair steaming device. (i'm not entirely serious but do want to placemark)

Waiting to find out what it is. Looks interesting.

Carpet cleaner?

Carpet cleaner might be getting close MsPickle

Nit comb ?

Did you buy the timer clock that is on the table today as well? It makes me think of Physics lessons

Perhaps a spray gun for misting or insecticide in a conservatory?

😂 some very big nits

Going to see my parents tomorrow - w

Will ask them

Or something to do with animal (horse?) grooming?

Yes the timer as well

And a load of old pop bottles with the little glass balls

And a couple of old typewriters

My dh dreads seeing me coming back with a car full of random whatsits but I can’t resist the weird and wonderful 😂