Mark Thorson wrote:
> The obvious guess is that it's for cooking either
> a whole chicken or some eggs.
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/_W0QQitemZ130110245902
>
> But there are only four holes in the ceramic
> plate that fits in the bottom, and the holes
> are too small for eggs.
>
> I'd guess it's for steaming a whole chicken,
> but who wants steamed chicken? Seems like
> it'd be an awful mess, and not for anything
> particularly good. It might be a useful
> appliance for somebody who did not have
> an oven.

Its an egg boiler. The 4 holed disc with the notch holds the eggs.