Bought a box of kitchen junk for $5. This wooden hinged tool was at the bottom. It doesn’t seem to grip anything tight enough to be tongs. Any thoughts?

The mystery was finally solved upon discovering that the tool was, in fact, a Victorian glove stretcher. These devices were used to gently reshape and stretch gloves, ensuring a perfect fit as they dried after being washed. During the Victorian era, gloves were an essential part of a lady’s wardrobe, worn for both fashion and modesty.

Glove stretchers were typically made from wood or ivory, with some crafted from metal. They featured a hinged design that allowed them to be inserted into the fingers