Mystery items #3…I acquired fairly recently….Item #2, I definitely have no idea about. I appreciate your help!
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Identify the Mystery Items
1. 
In case you can’t tell, these are ceramic, and I found them in the kitchen of an estate sale. I assumed the one on the left was a napkin holder, but what’s that thing on the right? These are both vintage pieces.
Left item: 5″L x 2″W x 2.5″T. It is rather short. Most napkins are going to fall over and not look pretty.
Right item: 3.5″L x 1″W x 5-1/4″T
I asked the male cashier about the thing on the right, and he said flippantly, “oh it’s for memos, YOU know…memo pads!” All the while he’s flipping his post it notes pad into it, and I’m nodding like I agree 100%. But I’m thinking…a memo holder with a napkin holder??? Doesn’t make sense.
So now I’m thinking the thing on the left COULD be an envelope holder! What do you think? And the thing on the right looks a little odd to me anyway, even if it is for memo pads. Maybe the whole thing is a desk set. I just don’t have a clue.
In our house, we didn’t have “desk sets” LOL. Just plain ole, plain ole, if you know what I mean.
2.
I have no idea what these are, but I picked them up at an estate sale for 50¢. They are both metal, and rather thick as you can see. The one with the cup on the end is 9-1/2″L. The other 8-1/2″L. The handles don’t go straight down, but at an angle.
The one on the right reminds me of a cow brand (like I’ve ever in my life seen what a cow brand looks like).
OK, over to you! And thanks in advance for your help with the mysteries!
Y’all, I have a confession to make….you have been leaving lovely comments and super guesses. I’ve enjoyed reading each one, and I will post them towards the end of the week with my comments. But I have found with “Mystery Items” posts, a few people guess it & other people coming along behind are going….”oh, well, they’ve guessed it, so there’s no point in my leaving a comment.” I know what you’re thinking! NO! I LOVE your comments & guesses, so if you’re checking back, that’s why you aren’t seeing anything.
Florence
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#2 is a rosette iron. You make a batter similar to thin pancake batter and dip the iron into it. Then you dip the iron into hot oil and it makes a rosette. It fries for a minute or two and then you take it out and sprinkle it with powder sugar. It’s a dessert. My mom used to make them all the time.
Totally nailed it Kim! Thanks for your guesses & comments!
Could the taller item hold a cookbook open to the recipe you are using?
The bottom flower looking thing looks like part of a cookie making set.
Tania
Pretty good guess for the bottom. Top thing on the right can’t hold a cookbook. You would see that if you saw up close.
Ok, what jumps out to me is yes the left china object is for napkins, but cloth ones folded over and laid in the long way, so they don’t topple. The other thing is a cookbook holder so the recipe page stays open. The metal things are for dipping in a batter then deep frying. The snowflake thing would make a type of waffle or cookie, the other a little pastry cup to fill. Just guessing, have no clue, but I have seen something like that snowflake thing before.
You nailed #2 Ellen! As we see now, #1 is a desk set. Thanks for your comments & guesses though.
2. They are rosette irons. You make a batter and then fry them.
Thanks Melinda!
Don’t have a clue about the floral holders unless the taller one is for holding a cookbook open. The bottom are cookie molds. Here’s a link: http://www.projectbly.com/products/kuih-loyang-metal-cookie-molds-malacca
Those do look pretty darn close. Thanks for your comments & guess!
The metal shapes on the rods are for making pastry cups and/or rosettes. You mix up a loose batter, dip the end of the mold into it and hold it in hot oil, kinda like a deep fryer. You cook it until golden brown and then(if done right) it should slip off to cool. Dust with powdered sugar. I have a set with one rod and interchangeable ends in different shapes. The cup shaped one makes a pastry shell that can be filled with fruit, pastry cream, pudding or even savory options.
You nailed it! Thanks for your guess & info!
Florence, I wonder if the piece next to the napkin holder is a cookbook holder. You put the open book in it so the recipe is visible. I have no idea what the other items are.
Not quite, but a good guess!
Interesting items! I, too, love to figure out what old things were originally designed to do. Here are my guesses: (1) Could the item on the right possibly be laid flat on its “back” (horizontally) instead of standing up vertically? Can’t really tell from the picture, but if it could, maybe it DID hold a note pad of a particular size that would slide up under under the “lip.” (Purely a guess, by the way! lol) It would make sense, though, if the other item was indeed a desk item. I would say it is probably a letter/ envelope holder, just as you said. It will be interesting to see what others say, though! (2) I believe these two items are rosette and/or timbale cookie irons. Do an Ebay search for “rosette cookie iron” and you will see several different types pop up. Nordic Ware and Handi Hostess seemed to be two of the main makers. I remember seeing these advertised many years ago, although I never owned one myself. Thanks for sharing your mystery items. We own a small antiques store and there always seems to be SOMETHING we are trying to identify! Learning something new is part of the fun!
I sure appreciate your comment Lynn! You totally nailed both items! Good guesses! Glad I’m not the only one who is puzzled about items sometimes!
I haven’t a clue what any of the items are. But I’m guessing something for the desk as well. Because why would you have a note pad holder with a napkin holder. That would be odd.
The other items I’m thinking to leave a decorative print on a cookie, and the other to form a cup out of some kind of dough. I’m probably way off, but that’s my guess ????
You got pretty close, I’d say! Good guesses for someone who doesn’t know! Thanks for your guesses & comments!
Clever Florence not letting us peek at other people’s comments. I have no idea at all what those metal things are. As for the first set, I would imagine if they are a kitchen set the taller one could have had a metal basket of some sort and held silverware.
Hee Hee, wasn’t that clever! Thanks for your guesses & comments!
I cannot tell from the photo, but the ceramic item on the right might have held a blotter and the ceramic item on the left would be an envelope or mail holder… part of a set. The two metal items are part of a rosette set. The long rod would hold interchangeable “heads” or rosettes. There would have been a box, recipe for the batter and how to make the rosettes by dipping in batter and then placing in hot oil. The pretty doughnut type pastries would then be sprinkled with confectioners sugar. Especially made at Christmas.
Nancy, you nailed it! Great guesses & thanks for the comments!
I’ll agree with the memo pad holder; the companion may be a holder for outgoing mail. So, basically a very pretty desk set. As for the metal items, I think they are rosette (sp?) irons…You dip them in a batter and them in hot oil to fry up the batter. Dusted with powdered sugar, they are probably similar to funnel cake.
Essie…nail on the head…great job! Thanks for the comments & guesses!
I think he was right about a note pad holder. The long, flat side lies flat on the table and the paper/pad slides up under the decorative ceramic part.
I KNOW the flower looking thing! But can’t call the name. ???? I used to have one. Never used it. You dip it in batter and then in deep oil. It’s a sweet thing. Not a fritter – I don’t think – but seems like it might start with an F. Since the other thing has the same handle it must be for dipping in deep fat too.
It kills me how everyone knows the cooking tool! I must really be in the dark…LOL. You’re right about the other.
Before I read the post, I guessed napkin holder and memo pad, My mom had something like this and i remember she used it for napkins.
So much fun junking my dear.
Maria
Oh yes, junking is my favorite thing! So aren’t you the clever one to guess the desk set???
Hi Florence,
I think you are correct. The top one probably are an envelope holder and a yellow note pad holder ~ looking beautiful on one’s lovely desk! The pad holder {that tall upright piece} would work for a secretary in days of old who was transcribing her notes from a meeting or such.
The next photo: I think I have something similar to the flower-looking kitchen piece. I think it’s a mold for those pancake-kinda cookies made where you dip the mold into batter then into a fryer. Guess maybe the second one is one, too?? {don’t know}. I never used my fryer mold so I think I garage-saled it.
Happy guessing, Everybody!
Barb 🙂
Thank you Barbara! I think you nailed it.
I really don’t know, but can’t resist guessing! 😉 My thought for the ceramic one is to hold cookbooks open. The bottom ones make me think of those gadgets you use in deep fryers to shape tortillas into bowls for taco salads. Are my guesses even close?? -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
No on #1, but right on #2! Thanks for guessing!
The thing that looks like a brand is called a patty mold. I have no idea how they work. They are on eBay 🙂
Thank you Kristen!
The second item are tools to make the wonderfully delicious Swedish Rosette cookies…..oh to have one of those right now!
Thank you! You nailed it! I wish I had one right now too!
#1 is napkin holder and card holder.#2,the one with the cup kind of thing,I remember I had seen it in my grandma’s chest.But I don’t really remember what is it used for.
Thank you Joanna! Appreciate your comment & guess!
I have no idea! I’m at a loss. They are all really cool finds and I’m dying to know what they are. I’m with you in thinking that the first may be a desk set, envelopes would be perfect for the holder, but I’ve never seen a memo holder like that. And on the second set? I’m totally stumped. They are really cool though and I’m gonna check back and see if anyone else got it!
Righto on #1. #2 had me stumped too.
The metal ones make a fried cookie. You dunk them in batter then in hot oil.
Thank you for your comment & guess Amanda! You nailed it.
What a puzzling group of goodies. I think that the tall item in the first photo might be to hold a recipe book open, if it is stable enough. I have seen the daisy-shaped item in vintage ads for making some sort of dessert that is fried in a pan; the batter somehow clings to the daisy and the long part is a handle to hold onto while the batter browns. I look forward to learning “the truth” about these items from someone who knows for sure 🙂
You nailed #2. #1 isn’t stable enough for the cookbook. You would be able to see it if you saw it up close.
I don’t remember the name of number 2, but I can tell you how to use it. When you go to a fair and buy a crispy treat covered in powdered sugar? This is a form to make those. Dip the form into a light flour and egg batter up to but not over the top, then directly into hot oil, to cook, cover with sugar and done. The cup shaped form can be filled with pudding, or fresh fruit, as a fancy dessert for a shower or tea. Very fun to make and serve. I could not remember the name or find the recipe , sorry, hope I helped.
#2 is a Rosette iron or Timbale set, I’ve learned. You knew exactly what it was!
Oooo I actually think I know what #2 is. My mom used them. She dipped them in a watery batter and then deep fried them and added all kinds of yummy stuff inside the fried batter cups. @1 might be for a recipe book maybe?
No on the recipe book. No way that’s strong enough to hold one, but totally correct on #2. Thanks for making a guess.
Hey Florence, I made it over here too late but enjoyed reading through the comments and finding out what the items were. Anyway they’re all very wonderful items. And very clever to post the comments later. I’ll be sure to get over here a lot quicker next time. 😉
Thank you Keri! Appreciate your comment & encouragement!