Mystery Object at Tarella Cottage

Today we visited Tarella Cottage at Wentworth Falls, a nearby village.
It was built in 1890 by a Sydney solicitor as a holiday retreat for his family to escape the heat in summer. It wouldn't have been much use to them today with temperatures in the mid 30s but was very interesting. 

His spinster daughter left the property to the Blue Mountains Historical Society when she died in 1988 two months before her 100th birthday. 
Mr isbi isn't certain but thinks he may have done a house call to her there around that time when he was the local vet.

The house is full of memorabilia from that era. 
This object had a sign asking if you could guess what it was. I couldn't so will see if anyone can. Answer tomorrow.