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?

 

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.