It is a shuttle used for tatting. There should be a bobbin in the center to wrap the thread around.

It does not go on a machine. You hold it in you hand and make a series of loops and knots to create your design. It is very delicate and tedious work.

Yes indeed a tatting shuttle. I have some tatting that belonged to my great-grandmother. My grandma gave it to me and I carried it in my wedding bouquet 44 years ago next week. Tatting is another one of those hand crafted skills that has amost disappeared as quilting did before its resurgnence.

Yes, it is a tatting shuttle. My husbands Great Aunt used to make wonderful doilies with it.

its a hand tatting shuttle...used to watch my Aunt use one...

It is definitely a tatting shuttle. My mom still uses hers now and then.

It is for tatting...I think it's called a shuttle. My mother used to make tatting for the edges of pillowcases, baby clothes, etc. Of the four girls, only one learned to tat. That picture brought back so many memories of my mother sitting in her rocking chair with her tatting. Thanks for the memories.

Sorry, I should have read all the posts first.

Nope; It's not a pulley; nor used on any machine. It is as others have menthioned--- a tatting shuttle!

It's a tatting shuttle - I remember watching my grandmother tat when I was growing up :)

Tatting shuddle