What is it?

[Jadzia]

For a presumably functional product, it's ultramodern design makes it look like something that should be on show, such as in a kitchen.

The three legs could be significant in a number of ways, as three is the minimum number needed for stability when standing or when clasping something.

The top part has ridges which make it look like a handle.

The arms do not look articulated, so I'll assume the object is rigid, and can't open up to clasp.

The arms are relatively sharp at their points, which with the above make it appear to be a stabbing tool of some kind.

And since we believe it to be a kitchen implement, I shall guess it's a device for stabbing and holding onto potatoes or fruit.

If it's a cousin to the above, then it is also of a culinary nature, and possibly a potatoey/fruity nature. I'll guess it is an ergonomic potato masher, or a juicer.

 

[Kestra]

or a juicer.

The spiky one looked like a juicer to me in the middle bit, but I can't figure out what the rest of it would be about.

 

[Jadzia]

Googling 'modern juicer' gives me this:

You were right Kestra.

 

[Sephiroth]

is it a juice/coffee vessel?

 

[Kestra]

Googling 'modern juicer' gives me this:

You were right Kestra.

Haha, how bizarre! Does this mean the other one is a juicer too? How on earth are you supposed to hold onto it?

 

[Miss Chicken]

He said consider it shape and it looks most like a pear or perhaps an apple.

 

[Holdfast]

OK, I'm a bit surprised people didn't instantly recognise the Philippe Starck juicer! It's a bit of modern design icon and has featured heavily in all sorts of places from TV, to movies and magazines. By the way, it's an awful product; a friend has one and the pips go everywhere, and so does juice. But it looks beautiful.

I'll put you out of your misery on the other one. It is also sold by Alessi (who make the juicer designed by Starck) and is also a fruit-related kitchen implement, hence the pear shape.

Believe it or not, it's actually a zester/peeler. The leaf of the pear has the blades/grates used for peeling/zesting integrated into it. Pretty cool, and actually much more ergonomic than the juicer, because the pear shape would fit neatly into the palm of your hand. Anyway, someone else's turn!

 

[Dart]

Go.

 

[Roger Wilco]

Well, would be interesting to see the tip of the thing. Poker for a fireplace maybe?

 

[Dart]

It just comes to a point maybe 1.4m away. If an average height man was standing next to it, it would be anywhere from his navel to his shoulders in height depending on the one he has.

These things can also be all metal or all wood.

Oh it's not a poker.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I was going to say a barbeque spit but they wouldn't be all wood.

 

[Holdfast]

I'm going to guess something used both as a spike to hold something in place, but also possibly to run ropes around the top of it, given the spool shape of the "handle", though it doesn't seem wide enough to do that securely... maybe something that belongs in a contraption of some sort, like in the rigging of a sailing boat?

 

[ThankQ]

looks like something thread could spool around.

That's it! It's a thread-spool holder! Just put all your spools down the shaft, and they're all there, neat, untangled, ready for you to sew like your life depends on it.

So, yeah, I'm gonna go with thread spool holder thing.

 

[Jadzia]

also possibly to run ropes around the top of it, given the spool shape of the "handle"

Mentioning the spool shape, I'm now imagining it belonging to a loom of some kind. I'm imagining the rod holding the work like a knitting needle, although I'm not sure what role the spool handle would be serving in that setup.

 

[Dart]

I'm going to end the suspense.

The wood piece here on this one is a handle you can hold while you use the stick. You'll notice it looks similar to a very old telephone reciever. That's how you use the stick you put the timber piece to your ear while you place the pointy end on water main fittings like stopcocks, hydrants or kitchen taps. You will be able to hear a leak noise if their is a leak nearby. In the case of a stopcock feeding a house you will be able to hear if water is passing it. If it is you can ask the house holder are they using water, if they're not it means they have a leak.

There are electronic ones too, but for the ease of use you can't beat a sounding stick.

 

[Jadzia]

I've never seen a listening stick before, only heard of them. It did actually cross my mind, but I expected the handle/ear piece to look rather different. I don't recognise that as a telephone receiver earpiece. Also, the length up to shoulder height threw me further off track, because I thought you wouldn't be able to bend your ear to it if it were that long.

 

[Dart]

Can you see it now. They do come in all different shapes.

 

[ThankQ]

It's a telephone!

Do I win?

 

[Dart]

It's a telephone!

Do I win?

Yes. You are the champion. Congratulations.

 

[Miss Chicken]

Another easy one (I think).

Can someone tell me what this is called and what it is used for.

Clue - their height ranges from about 16 to 24 inches.