Anyone know what it is?

Hi all, I picked this up at a local auction it had 8mm films in it but it was such a tight fit that I don't think that is what it's original purpose was. As dirty as the outside is it appears to be chrome or polished stainless underneath. The only markings I see is a B in a circle. My guess is some kind of fancy food or pastry carrier. Thanks!

 

Size?

 

8" tall 5"wide

 

Pretty small to carry very many pastries.

 

Tarts?

 

Pastries was just a guess might not have anything to do with food

 

If not for the size, I would have suggested pie safe. Am I correct that it tapers some from top to bottom? What is the spacing between shelves?

 

So far, this is the closest I’m finding. Broken link, so who knows.

 

That's the only one I can find either, that has a fixed configuration rather than being stackable.

 

I tried searching it all type of ways on google with no luck. The shelves are 5" wide 1" high there is no taper. It's 5 1/4" wide on top and bottom due to lip. Does anyone recognize the B maker's mark? Thanks!

 

The one in the link is much larger at 14" across and 15" high ...
https://www.etsy.com/listing/537028354/large-antique-zinc-metal-pie-carrier?show_sold_out_detail=1

 

Oh good. That's the one INH found on Pinterest. See the shelves are adjustable.

 

Yeah, I wasn't too clear about wording that ... it is the same one that INH found ... I was just able to find a round-about way to get the info that went along with the image.

 

Toasted, are the shelves in your also adjustable? How are they held up?

 

And here I was sitting in "the South" and thinking of my grandmother's "pie safe" which definitely was not a metal "pie container/carrier" -- Grandma's "pie safe" was a footed, multi-shelved, wooden cabinet 5' or so with a "fine"-screened door and a lockable wooden knob. Grandma also kept her homemade jellies/preserves in the same "pie safe" on the back screened porch.

Even as a little child I knew that when Grandma headed for the back porch something really good-tasting would soon be joining the "meal" set out by my precious "little" (she was less than 5' feet tall even in her 2"-high-heeled lace-up shoes) grandma.

 

Salesman sample of the actual Pie carrier??? As a pie carrier, gotta get them to market somehow and that would be perfect (the actual sized one)

 

That was the term that first popped into my head, but a little Googling showed me furniture pieces along the lines of what you're so yummily describing. 'Carrier' seems better for items like OP's.

 

Bronwen, I hope you know I was not concerned with your choice of words. After a very dreary winter-type (dark) day here, I was, I think, just wanting to remember a very happy "childhood" time.

 

Oh no. I didn't take it as any kind of correction/criticism. Just me babbling.

 

Yourturn, what lovely memories. I always wanted a pie safe.
My grandmother was petite too.