I believe this an Art Deco toast rack, where slices of toast would have been held between the spaces. It's one of those items from a bygone era--do people use toast racks anymore? It's likely British made, and I think it depicts a shot put thrower. It's classic Machine Age design...very masculine and would have gone well with a gentleman's tea set. It's made of chrome. The sportsman motif was fairly common in Art Deco items of the period, circa 1930's. This toast rack could have been inspired by the Olympic Games during that time period.