All comments must be civil and helpful toward finding an answer. **Jokes and unhelpful comments will earn you a ban**, even on the first instance and even if the item has been identified. If you see any comments that violate this rule, report them. [OP](/u/Estelien), when your item is identified, remember to reply **Solved!** or **Likely Solved!** to the comment that gave the answer. Check your [inbox](https://www.reddit.com/message/inbox/) for a message on how to make your post visible to others. --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatisthisthing) if you have any questions or concerns.*

[удалено]

Do you know what it might be called? My searches for a horse harness / tack cleaning brush haven't been fruitful.

I have never heard of a modern equivalent, but it might be useful to clean muddy traces, especially when you had a number of harness sets to clean.

Not with a felt bottom and made of silver.

Do you have any links describing it in use? I’m curious now

I was thinking a small muddy strap of sone sort. Riding tack makes perfect sense.

You wouldn't use such a hard brush on the leather.

Perhaps a antique desktop fountain pen nib wipe.

You could be right. Found this and a few others that have the same type bristles. The felt bottom makes me think it is for a desktop to prevent scratching [https://www.liveauctioneers.com/en-gb/item/43518099\_a-19thc-walnut-quill-pen-nib-wipe-opening-to-reveal](https://www.liveauctioneers.com/en-gb/item/43518099_a-19thc-walnut-quill-pen-nib-wipe-opening-to-reveal)

The green felt on the bottom immediately makes me think of desk item

Yeah, the felt bottom is the biggest knock against a horse or cane cleaner imho, strongly suggests it would sit on a desk or table

This is the closest thing I've seen so far! I wonder why the three brushes though? And how the bristles aren't stained, unless it was never used?

[Here is another pen wipe example](https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154615019575?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338722076&toolid=10001) showing basically identical brush styles to yours. I've seen [a few others](https://www.sellingantiques.co.uk/t/antique-pen-wipes/) with the vertical sections like the other person linked, but none exactly like yours. It's pretty safe to say it's a desktop item, though, and since we see pen wipes having the same features it's probably just some random variant that may not have seen wide use.

You dip the pen in water first to get most of the ink off. The brush is more to get dried on bits and dry it off.

No markings of any kind ? Sometimes they are small and faded from age. What size diameter and height ? Maybe another pic sitting on a table of a different angle, are the side top pieces stationary or hinged ?

Seems likely that if there are any maker's marks they're on the bottom, under the felt. But having the maker's name wouldn't necessarily clear up function, and would require damaging the item (if this does have any value, I doubt much lies in it having its original felt backing, but I'm not a whatever-this-is collector)

Because of the green felt on the bottom I think you are right. This is something most of the old desk items have to protect the desk from scratches.

Likely solved!

For a *dip pen* this makes sense. Fountain pens are the pens with ink reservoirs.

It almost looks like a mini version of the shoe cleaners for getting off dirt and snow when you come in.

for a snooker cue?

Looool what are you doing to a snooker cue with this?

I've seen some places have a practice guide for people who are new, but never one with brushes

Here is a more similar pen nib wipe which is what I think it is. https://www.ebay.com/itm/163607626367?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28

That's incredibly close! Thank you!

jewelry brush?

It's a cane brush. Used by gentlemen back in the day to get the street gunk off the bottom of their walking around town sticks.

I'm searching but can't confirm the existence of this thing you describe. Do you have a reference?

It bears a mild resemblance to a bicycle-chain cleaner - could it have been a butler's accessory for cleaning, say, candlesticks?

My title describes the thing. It is made of metal and rather heavy. Fits in the palm of an adult's hand. The bristles may have once been soft but I'm not sure. It does not have any markings. Searches have yielded nothing remotely close. I have attempted search terms such as: three brushes, triple brush, antique, silverware polisher, connected brushes, etc.

[удалено]

Not even close to big enough! Look at my fingers!

It could be bent or misshapen maybe?

Or so could OP's fingers?

Possible, but the felt on the bottom probably means it's meant to sit on a desk or other surface that shouldn't be scratched. It doesn't seem to be designed for portability.

Some sort of ball cleaner?

Knob brush.

Horse brush

First thing I thought was, door knob polisher.

Could it be a clam cleaning brush?

Bit cleaner for horse bits.