How old is your house? 1920’s,1930’s,1940’s
It looks like is was made about then…
Would you believe (in your best Maxwell Smart voice):
A toast rack for a large old toaster oven?
– or –
A filter retainer for small furnace?
This reminds me of a game show called ‘Liar’s Club’. Four celebrity panelist would give their story of what was some object. Only one was correct and the contestant had to choose which one. Larry Hovis (Hogan’s Heroes) was one of the regular panelist. The show played on a local channel in LA. I don’t know if SD had it also.