What is this brass & iron thing?

This is a stand or bracket of some sort - the bracket part is cast iron with a pretty tulip design which can slip onto something like a shelf and the brass stand part moves up and down on brass rods and has an elaborate lyre design. At first I thought it was a music stand but I can't see how the brackets work. Have any of ever seen something like this? Thanks for the help.

 

Shouldn't it be oriented this way so the lyre is upright?

Debora

 

Yes, that looks better.

 

Could it work like this?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254106437074

 

Oh yeah, you can see where it's missing the handle that screwed into the middle threaded rod, and the 2 places on the outside rods where that missing spanner/foot bracket whent.

 

Yes, that look like it. And Rayo is correct - it is missing a few pieces. Thank you everyone!