I have an odd piece that was found in an abandoned house the company I work for is doing testing in before it is set to be demolished. Its a wooden panel with flowers carved in it and the middle slides out and it has a carved owl on one end that has hinges and folds out/up. That about as good as I can explain it.. What in the world is it?
Re: Odd Wooden Thing
Hope this link works to see the picture of it.. http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n30/rush_0/Odd_Wooden_Thing.jpg
Re: Odd Wooden Thing
Hi Ush O,
From what I can tell this looks like the same kind of wood used in those little end tables my folks used to have. My folks bought stuff from Cost Plus all the time-hippies! The wood was always intricutely (sp?) carved and comes from India. The table top would come off the legs and the legs had to be put together to be made to work. Kinda like Ikea but Indian style~ =)
 It looks like a letter holder; it's cool-owls are in hip right now.
Re: Odd Wooden Thing
I am not sure what it is, but it looks like a cover to something. If you are willing to sell it, please contact me. I have an old victorian and love owls. Is the wood work pressed or hand carved?
Re: Odd Wooden Thing
 The photos I find are simply too small to see any detail, so cannot really comment.  Can you get a good look at the fittings on the piece?  From what I can see, the screws seem to be very bright, almost new.  If you are able to post any clearer images, with close-ups of each section (not just the carving, usually it is the mundane parts that hold the answer as to what odd things really are), it will help quite a bit.  My first impression, though, from what I could see, is that it reminded me of either an old library fixture (expanding bookend), or maybe some kind of drying rack, but that is without really seeing it, and is only an impression.
Dodger