Egg Separator or Tea Strainer?

[ipsdeni]

Hello, I've done research on this item and found it listed as both an egg separator and a tea strainer. I'm at a loss to verify for sure it's use other than to say if I had to use it for something myself I'd choose egg separator as there is nothing on the device to prevent the tea leaves from falling through the hole. At first I thought it was a tiny gravy boat on a handle. It's about 5 inches in length.

Any ideas and can you provide backup for the conclusion if that's not too much to ask?




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[dragonflywink]

Hard to make out from your tiny thumbnails, but appears to be Paye & Baker marks, this is a tea strainer, missing its original removable screen. U.S Patent #1.226,691 for a Dripless Strainer for tea and coffee, assigned to Paye & Baker and issued May 22, 1917.

~Cheryl
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