I love this, I just don't know what it is. Any ideas?

Looks like a hybrid-old bit of treen stuck on a yarn winder,non-functional but lovely folk art. Or...did you put the fur/fleece in the bowl & wind it out below ?

 

I did think of cream separator at first but the separator uses centrifugal force.and there is no place for a crank she said

 

Here is another yarn winder that is a little closer. If you cut off the wheel part. Of course it could be something else.



https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/37769547_19th-c-yarn-winder

 

So, a dough bowl (which I agree the tray looks like) mounted on top of a yarn winder mechanism without the spool to be used as....for.....whatever? So, pieces parts of old things. I completely agree the base looks like the yarn winder. 100%.

I'm good with that. Hubby still thinks it's fake old. I still think it's legit old. The "cobbled together" part even seems old to me. So how do I find out who's right? Do I take it to someone? If so, who?

I got it for next to nothing. (I work at a thrift store and we get half off). I'm not looking to sell it because I think it looks really cool - but I'd love to be able to say, for once and for all, what it really is.

 

it's a combination of things....modified to be what it is now ...a curiosity !

don't over think it......
it's nice.......let it be just that !

 

It's cool,great eye appeal.

 

I think the dough bowl is fairly new. The rest appears to be legitimately old.