What is it?

I am a wood worker and I seen this on Craigs list. The seller does not know what it is and wants 10 bucks for it. I am puzzled myself. I have never seen anything like it.
Does any one have a clue?
Guesses would be welcome.

Looks alot like what a priest uses to hold the bible open during readings…. anyways the one I seen as a alter boy… yep, I am holier than thou

“It’s a major prize!”

As mention above I also have seen a similar item used for holding a bible or other books open.

My grandma had something almost exactly like this next to her chair. She used it to hold skeins of yarn.

The book holder sounds good. Could be but I would think it would have a little tilt to it though if it were to display an open page? The thing lays pretty horizontal by the looks of it.

Yep. Bookholder.

If memory serves me it is made from one piece of wood, and the hinges are formed with chisels and small saws. I have always wanted to build one just to see if I could.

Yup have one in our church too. I was always mad that they never asked me to be an alter boy. You’re so lucky G!

Thanks guys. I have a friend that is into antiques and crafts and he said it was a book holder too. He paid 5 dollars for one. It is made in India I guess.

I have been making wooden wrist watches in the shop this week. I was going to make 3 of them and before I got started they were claimed. So I changed the quantity to 10 of them. Mass production :-0. I am making them out of some 1/4 sawn oak and cherry wood that I have stocked up on.