Salad strainer, lid/serving dish; 3-in-1.

ETA: Additionally and alternatively, my guess is also: Pasta colander and serving dish. Pasta out of colander and straight to serving dish, piping hot.

think I found its grandmother...

Looks vintage judging by the lovely shade of Harvest Orange! Is it about the size of a one cup measuring cup? If so, my guess is that it is some sort of a sifter.

You would have a lid so you could shake it without flinging flour about the kitchen.

I think it's a duster for powdered sugar, cocoa powder or other light-weight decorative dustings. The light-weight powder is kept under control by the lid, thus no cloud of yuck all over your counter. It's held over the object and tapped on the lid to give an even distribution. You've seen the fancy brownies with the nice, even dusting of white powdered sugar, right?

When you're between dustings, put the lid, clean side down, on the counter and place the sifter on top of it to keep your counter clean.

Do I win? Is there a prize????

ETA: Hey, it just occurred to me that if the lid actually fits securely, you can just leave it on and set the whole thing down on the lid side. Maybe that's the "special" aspect of this very unique item. Myself, I use a regular old stainless strainer and a measuring cup to hold it while I don't need it. I'm not a fan of dedicated tools, they're a wast of my precious space!

AMN< no prize but if someone starts sifting chocolate anything...they better sprinkle it on something and bring it to MY house...love chocolate..hehehee

the sifting idea sounds right, since it looks small...maybe to sift flour, powdered sugar....now that I figured it out with AMN help...can I have the prize...hehehehee shhhhh AMN doenst know there really is a prize...send it my way!!!!

hugss all, sarah (maybe it is the beating coworkers idea after all)

I like AMNs answer ...

maybe - ask your boss if he'd like some do-nuts (so you can practice shaking on the powdered sugar on 'em)

Cindy, I think you're on to something. BUT, what the heck is that little round doowoppy with a slot that looks like you can hang it on a can or something?

What? Not a fan of dedicated tools? I love gadgets!

Got another for you in a minute (soon as I quit accidentally erasing my memory card).

I'm so bad at this, but I'm getting better! Hey, I've got 2 photo albums started.

Hold up a hot minute here. First, what the heck is "Tuppermade supposed to mean?

You know, Tuppermade, as opposed to KitchenAide or RubberMaid. TupperMade!

I still have no clue as to what Tuppermade might be . Maybe my brain cells are slow or something.

I can't imagine, though, giving someone something and expecting the recipient to guess what it is. That's just me, and I'm probably more direct.

ETA: I looked and looked for a Tuppermade site, and I couldn't find one. I do believe I am Net savvy and tried different domain configs. as well. Still nothing on Tuppermade.

I would ask: I can see how it may be used for straining and sealing, but: Exactly what is it?

If someone gives me something, and it just makes no sense to me: I do ask. Otherwise? I'd use it as I see fit and not worry about it.