Technical Mystery part - Anyone know what this is?

I got this at an auction a few months ago. No clue as to what it is, I just thought it was kinda cool. Measures 13 plus inches by 5 inches high.

 

step for a horse drawn buggy?

 

Part of an old diner menu holder.

 

Pedal to raise and lower old school barber chair .

 

Or barber chair footrest for kids as it's only 13 inch.

 

Is the finish down in the recess reflective, or just rough textured? Any markings on the back side?

 

Old wood stove decoration.

 

I'd like to think whatever it is was used in the upright position with the wings left and right. The bolts to secure it were in shear, not tension. There not enough material for that to be used as a step. It would bend.

 

The recessed area is rough. No markings. It's thick....too heavy for just holding menus.

 

Im thinking wood or coal stove foot rest

 

It has an art deco look to it. I’m thinking along the lines of maybe trim on an old railway passenger car or bus or maybe a trolley car. It looks like the area where the screws/bolts went was covered by maybe another panel or trim. Heck it could even be from an elevator or something like that. Then again, I could easily be wrong about all that.

 

The first piece of your next build.

 

Goes behind a vintage motorcycle saddle?

Gary

 

I don't know what it is, but with those dimensions and some fabrication it wood make a cool license place surround.

 

Shoe for flying horse.

 

bumper car hood guard?

 

What does the back side look like?
Could we be looking at what was the back side of the part? Then it could be a grille guard.
Is it cast iron, or some other kind of metal, like poured lead or aluminum or forged steel?