Thank you for the opportunity

Thank you for the add to the group. It will great to learn from you all! May I plunge right in with these? I am guessing Judaica because they remind me of Torah scrolls...but what ARE they? what would the notches be used for? Or that one ring? They are hollow. Thank you for any insights!

 

Welcome Poochiemoo.
The flowers look like edelweiss, but I have no idea what they are, sorry. Others will be along to help.

 

Welcome! I'm a newbie as well!

I have no idea what these are, but they're cool looking!

 

You don't give size.
Any chance they are clock pendulums?


Well maybe not pendulums, but they are meant to hang.

 

Certainly looks like they should be the other way around, if you look at the stem of the edelweiss and the way the leaves grow. Maybe a wall hanger for dried or silk flowers?

 

yup the slots in the wood and the ring say these are upside down......
look kind Asian to me...

 

oh..& Greetings !!

 

Well, there you have it, Asian edelweiss dried/silk flower wall hangers.

 

Welcome, Poochiemoo!

 

only one has the ring, the other isn’t missing one because there’s no hole. baffles me

 

i thought that maybe the slots would hold a scroll, or sheet music, or ??

 

the one with the ring certainly has more wear than the other.....

 

put a paper in the slot.......see how much it hides.....and if it stays up straight or folds around.....

 

so, my observations: No idea, but there are clues...

the Edelweiss carving suggests... they were meant to be permanently used or displayed, and unidirectional, i.e., facing the user, i.e., the flowers were a decorative thing on a functional item when used.
The nearly identical pair of carvings, suggests ... they were meant to be used together.
The circular grooves look worn inside, so they might have held a cord, possibly running between the pair, like holding the edge of a banner.
The metal ring probably was used to secure one end only, since the other would not move. It maybe was a 'catch' to an opposing hook.
The 'hanging' slots on each octagonal section suggest, that was the "back" facing away from the user, and they were slotted so they could be hung onto and 'adjusted' along a flat surface of some kind.
Thus the inside cavities would face up. They are unfinished. Perhaps they were meant to lighten the object, rather than contain anything. (missing a 'top'?)
Each slot is sawn so that causes a protrusion (triangle) of wood to be opposite the user, so the slots would likley not be used against a surface like a wall, e.g., a free hanging band or cord. That would be very unstable... so the flat surface must be a very thin rigid panel, that is 'free' of obstructions near the opposite side...
Those wooden 'udders' look like handles to allow each to be held while hanging or moving... one would move, the other not... so the wear would be uneven. The one with the more wear, is also the one with the metal eye... the 'front' of the scroll? if you will.

Sounding much like a pair of spools for holding a religious scroll and reading of some kind. maybe on an angle on a thin wooden 'desk top'. Wedding related?

Maybe the furniture folks know.

 

I changed my mind on the grooves... each end has grooves, so maybe they rotated inside something else, like a frame or box, and the slots held the ends of the banner in place. That way the scrolls can be turned and each moves together.

similar to this:

 

so, here's a 'better' use for the ring...


clasp the pointer on a chain, so you don't lose it.

 

Dawno, a trove of insights! thank you for posting that picture, i think that must be the answer. mine then, look to be missing some sort of bottom attachment to cover the holes. and i love that little ‘pointer’, i’ll be on the hunt for one. i appreciate your research and assistance.

 

You still have not provided any size.