What is this (museum piece)?

Hello,

In a museum in Aizu-Wakamatsu i saw this item (https://picasaweb.google.com/butchijos/AizuWakamatsu#50788488654561412...).
Does anybody know what this is or were it was used for?
B. Slager

I have no idea: but happy to start the guesses rolling
?looks like something would be weighed, or weighted, and something else drain down; maybe a tofu press???
As I said, I have absolutely no idea!! will be interested to find out though

B Slager,

I have no idea what that is, but guessing from your photo website, you most likely saw that here.
http://www.bukeyashiki.com/index.html

So that's probably where you'd want to start asking. Insert details into the following format and click 送信
From the top, it's name(*), way to read name, age range, profession, email address(*), phone number(*), postal mail address, inquiry. The * are a must.
http://www.bukeyashiki.com/mail_fm.php