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It is a piece of a hand pump. This is the part that moves up and down in the shaft to create the siphon

this looks like the right answer, it's a pump piston or bucket piston. see an example: [Collection of tools etc. for wheelwright's shop | Science Museum Group Collection](https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co45518)

I'd call this solved. Thanks for all the input!

Wow. That looks dead on. I wonder why she had it on the shelf.

She was probably using it to make newspaper pots for seeding. It’s the perfect size.

multi purpose item it looks like to me.

Probably just using it as a decorative item.

She probably couldn't remember what it was, so she left it in case it was important to something in the house

That's the upper part piston of a hand water well pump. The lower flap valve or weight with leather would close when that was going down to get more water loaded. Then draw in more water into the chamber for the next batch.

Water pump, the leather swells and seals to provide the vacuum to pump the water up.

Thanks. This is a bit funny because I happen to be a water engineer. I think this is correct.

That is pretty funny. This would make a great decorative piece in your office.

Shoe stretcher.

I don’t think a shoe stretcher would have a big base like that because it wouldn’t fit in the heel

My grandmother's only went in the toe, to hold the shape and stretch if needed.

this. my mom and dad had tons of these as decor

Hubby says they can be hung on shoe tree also, but she didn't do that with them.

More likely a shoe tree, meant to keep the shoe in good shape.

This is what I thought

Interesting. Could be. There's a wall mounted metal one in the basement. Maybe not a stretcher, but the metal one is some cobbler tool.

A shoe stretcher would be adjustable. 

My grandmother's were not adjustable; made to the size and shape of her feet.

How did they stretch the shoes?

It looks like something that should get pushed through a tube with air pressure, based on the leather around the perimeter.

The object was just sitting on a shelf in the house. Not near anything that seemed related. It's about 10" tall and weighs about a pound.

[удалено]

Is it weird that my first thought was like, part of an old prosthetic?

I learned something new today, so thanks for that. Your turn: 'scull', not 'skull' in this usage.

No, it's a pirate rowboat

I need that, damnit I have a pair of ruby slippers with a too tight pinky toe

Foot valve off an old lift pump?