What is this household object from early 1900s rural Russia?

score:42

It's a Cветец (Svetetz), a device for holding a primitive torch called a Лучина (Luchina - splinter) or Rushlight, really just a splinter of wood or a piece of plant fiber dipped in grease.

Drawing of svetetz and lucina from Google Image Search

The Svetetz would need to be placed in a pool of water to prevent dropped ashes from starting a fire, so that could explain the raised yoke-like sides of the wooden piece. I can't find any pictures of another svetetz with a wooden part shaped this way, but the metal clips are pretty unmistakeable, as is the partially burned splinter.

Svetetz and lucina from Google Image Search

Robert 1045

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Source: stackoverflow.com

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What is this household object from early 1900s rural Russia?

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