Does Anyone Have Information On This Wood & Metal Item "Varietay"

[JeanneCurt]

Hi Everyone!

Has anyone ever seen this item or name.  It looks like it would be a pusher for for grinding but I am not sure.  It measures approximately 2 3/4" square.

Any information would be appreciated!

Thank you.
Jeanne

[ghopper1924]

An oak stamp for butter?

[mart]

What does the bottom end of the wooden press look like ??  Its not a butter mold !! Is the metal box open at bottom ??

[JeanneCurt]

The metal box is open.  There are just the 4 sides.  I have included a photo of the bottom of the wood.

[mart]

I thought it looked like it was curved !!  This is an odd one,, where did you get this item ??  If purchased what were you told about it ??  I thought possibly a cheese mold where the box was lined with cheesecloth and then pressed with the wooden part to extract the whey !!  But with the wooden press curved like that,, need to re-think this !!

[KC]

Mart, my first inclinations were for butter, cheese or the infamous headcheese!

Am I seeing correctly that the bottom of the tin has a lip on it?  It appears to me that an insert for the bottom is missing.  So, I do believe it could be for any of the above!

[mart]

Yes,, a sliding screen if for cheese but,, look at the wooden part KC,, its curved and the size would lake it fit almost to the bottom of the metal part !!

[KC]

But doesn't it depend on how much you put in it and the solids?

Not for soap or lard.

[JeanneCurt]

This was in a box of junk from  an auction.  I do think the metal square fit into/onto some other piece.  I can't find that name anywhere!

[mart]

True KC !!  What ever it was would be flat on bottom and rounded on top !!  The metal box is small at 2 3/4 inches so doesn`t hold much !!
I haven`t found that name either !!

[mart]

Where is Rauville ??  He is good at finding these odd items !!

[cogar]

Ah so, only 2 ¾” square, huh?

With the metal box being 2 ¾” square infers to me that it is probably a “filled” or “layered” cookie or food press (cutter).

And the way I envision it could have been used:

Roll-out two (2) large layers of dough (like making 2 pie crusts).
Spread the “filling” of choice on one (1) layer … then cover it with the other.
Use the metal box as the “cutter” of the dough …. and the wood “plunger” to “seal” opposites sides of the food “item” and then it could be baked, boiled or whatever.       

It would resemble a Fig Newton but with a Ravioli type “concave” crimp on opposite sides.

[mart]

That's a possibility but with the lip around the bottom,, how would you get it out ??

[cogar]

Mart, the photos show a "lip" at the top but not the bottom.

Or maybe like a biscuit "cutter" that one oftentimes has to per se "shake" them out.

It just looked to me like a "kitchen utensil" and thus I conjured up a use for it.

[mart]

Well, keep on thinking Cogar,, I am out of ideas !!