15 Weird Items’ Purpose People Were in Desperate Need to Find Out

In the age of social media, people share everything they consider as interesting hoping to find others who will engage with them. Luckily, there is a group for everything online and that includes mysterious objects that people don’t know a thing about. So, they will ask everyone else about these items and most of the time they will have an answer within hours.

Now I’ve Seen Everything always loves showering you with mystery and then providing you with the solution to that mystery.

“Metal item attached to wall of a hotel room. Has a divot in the front and two pairs of thin metal prongs in the back.”

Answer: it was used as a candle holder and had postcards in the back held up by the prongs that the guests could use. They were part of the original design of the hotel.

“What is this thing — small, blue, and plastic, found in a house. No clue what it could be?”

• Believe it or not, I know what it is, but I can’t find the necessary toy. © Mindless-Crazy-3734 / Reddit

Answer: It’s the antennae from this snail thing, it completely disassembles and is so annoying we threw it away.

“Okay, I know it’s a chair, but what’s with the extended arms?”

Answer: It looks like a plantation/planter’s chair. You’d put your sore, swollen legs up on the arms after sitting on a horse all day, like a pregnant woman with her legs up in the same fashion. This is why the back is so sloped as well. If you sit up straight, it wouldn’t be comfortable to put your legs up like that, but in a reclined position, it’s good for blood and air flow.

“It’s carved wood with wooden rings around it. The rings don’t come off. Found it in a park.”

Answer: It’s a hot chocolate stirrer/whisk. Known as a molinillo.

“Purchased in Africa, was told something about ancient sailing.”

Answer: They say it’s an astrolabe. It is one of the most ancient astronomical tools to measure the horizontal angles and find the longitudes and latitudes of celestial bodies.

“A gold sphere with legs and a handle. The sphere splits in 2, each side with a lid.”

• I was going to go with an antique bed warmer... © ****shift / Reddit

Answer: This is a Victorian folding clamshell biscuit box.

“Found this while cleaning out the attic. It’s wood, looks handmade, measures 20 cm, but I have no idea what it is or does!”

Answer: It’s a double spoon — a symbol of hospitality in traditional African art. It represents 2 very distinct universes that are opposite.

“Found this weird electric tool. When plugged in and turned on it vibrates very intensely. Has some spring like coils on the bottom.”

Answer: It’s a Swedish massager. Hand goes through the springs and it vibrates the hand as you massage someone.

“I found this in the garage, a tube with notches made of brass, the rest of the cover on top. It has a copper rod with a wooden handle.”

Answer: It’s a hair curler.

“I found this metal object. No text or numbers. Can retract to be the size of a bracelet.”

Answer: It’s the top (closure part) of a purse or small handbag.

“Found this small kettle years ago. Does anyone have an idea as to why this has this unique shape?”

Answer: It’s a portable men’s urinal for bed-bound patients.

“Just moved to a new apartment, found this in the living room. What is it?”

Answer: It’s an antique heater.

“It looks to be a very small concrete bench or seat facing away from the road near the curb. Too small for a child.”

Answer: They could be old carriage steps, used to help people get in and out of horse-drawn carriages.

“It’s a plaque with numbers inscribed on it. Found on the sidewalk outside a building at my university.”

Answer: It’s a magic square. It’s a popular sort of decoration to put outside math departments. If you add the numbers horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, it will make 34.

“Brass or bronze ball with dividing lines”

Answer: Petanque ball.

Do you happen to have an item whose purpose you don’t know and you would like to get an answer about?