15 Curious Objects With Hidden Meanings That Can Tickle Our Imagination

Some folks like to check out old stores, and others get lucky by finding special things in their basements. But they all have one thing in common: they come across strange items and can’t figure out what they’re used for at first. Thankfully, the internet is full of experts who are eager to help them solve these mysteries.

"Clearing out things today and found this. Not sure what it is, wondering if anyone can help me out.

Answer: “Looks like a decanter bottle stopper.”

“Why does this newer public toilet have these ’fangs’?”

Answer: “They’re called bedpan lugs. This would be made for a hospital to hold a collection hat. Why it’s in a public bathroom may just be a mistake.”

“I have this strange artifact. It has one hole in the center and a smaller hole beneath that.”

Answer: “It’s an oil lamp. The big hole on the top is where the oil goes and the small hole at the end holds the wick.”

“White solid substance washed ashore on a northern German beach.”

Answer: “Paraffin wax from ships ending up on German beaches.”

“This thing is mounted on a wall at my work. At the bottom where the speaker is, there are a few buttons.”

Answer: “Looks like a Simon game. You start it, then you push the buttons following the sequence. As you progress you have to remember longer and longer sequences.”

“Metal spring with plastic ends, 20cm long, no writings or markings.”

Answer: “Hair remover used for the little hairs on one’s face.”

“Anyone knows what species it is? It looks like an egg with a man’s butt.”

Answer: “Looks like a volvariella bombycina.”

“What is this chrome thing near the toilet and the TP holder?”

Answer: “Looks like a holder for magazines. ‘Literature’ is an important bathroom supply category — or at least used to be before smartphones, I guess.”

“Small plastic pouch with red gel and a metal disc inside.”

Answer: “Hand warmer. You can ‘click’ the metal piece, and it will start a chemical reaction and heat the pad.”

“This is a steel wire frame with 2 glass marbles. The marbles can turn inside the frame.”

Answer: “It’s a razor blade sharpener.”

“4-meter high funnel with 3 outlets near a playground and a garden in Germany.”

Answer: “Toss a ball in it and guess which hole it comes out. That’s what kids did for fun in the ’80s.”

“What are these little knit tubes?”

Answer: “Not sure if that was the original idea for them, but they can be used to keep chairs from scratching your floors. So they are socks, but for chairs rather than humans.”

“Small metal clasping items found in an old nightstand.”

Answer: “Possibly skirt lifts if one arm is bent.”

“My coworker saw this toilet in the women’s restroom at the Huntsville Space Center. Why is it shaped this way?”

Answer: “Prevents the hover maneuver on normal sit-down toilets, which tends to lead to pee everywhere.”

“What are these tiny things? We found a bag of 10.”

Answer: “They are for an ear thermometer. For hygienic reasons.”

Are you a fan of peculiar things? Check out these items that look like strange things but in reality, have completely unique purposes.