Name That Kitchen Gadget:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=320244079610

I think it may be a type of boiled ham mold,
to make a pattern in the surface imitating
the depresions that would be made if it
were tied with string.

But there is no spring action for squeezing
the meat. And the inner surface of the mold
is mostly flat, except for the slots, so it
wouldn't make good impressions on the surface.

I've also considered that it might be for
draining curd in cheesemaking.

I think the overall shape is the key to
identifying this object. What is bigger
one one end than the other? Ham, yes.
Provolone, yes.