I can't Begin to Guess What This Was For...Can You?

A friend of mine went to an estate sale in, as she said, "A very interesting old house." She added it was in the hallway "leading from the most dilapidated garage you've ever seen, to another narrow hallway to the kitchen. The powder room is between this wall it is on and the back door hall." I am completely stumped. Have you ever seen this before?

 

The same thoughts that went through my head. I said it looked like a place for a platter, but why would it be there?

 

Collapsible opera hat.

 

What a GREAT suggestion! That fits all the obvious features, so I think you nailed it! Thank you both very much.

 

I can't decide if I was kidding or not. I mean on one hand, yes I was. But on the other...

WHAT ELSE FITS THAT SHAPE!!??

 

Exactly! Your kidding-or-not answer fits everything perfectly and the more I look at the thing a collapsible hat makes perfect sense. It also hits all of bookahtoo’s points, too.

 

I'm guessing that this...FIXTURE...for want of a better word...was in like, a mud-room or something, between the garage and the kitchen? So presumably it held something that was put on/taken off when one went traveling?

How old is the house? How big? Do you know? That might help us figure out what it is.

 

maybe for the chauffeur's cap and jacket?

The chauffeur often doubled as general handy-man. Having these by the garage made sure he could be presentable at a moments notice - wash up in kitchen, grab hat & jacket, get car out.

WAG

 

True - I was thinking of that description of a narrow hallway - might not have room for a full coat rack.

 

I will ask my friend for details about the house, but I think it was a small, unimpressive place (so not likely to have had a chauffeur). I just said to someone else that I suspect that narrow hall probably didn't have room for something like a coat closet or hall tree, etc. and, as I noted, Shangas' idea fits all the hints as to the purpose.

 

i see no scuffing on the wall...to suggest use.....
and a poor paint job..

 

Wall could have been repainted....but it was likely for something very specific to the family and the location...folding laundry or shopping basket...tray for Grandma's meds....Grandpa's rain-hat....

 

looks like it held a frizbee................