primitive vintage needlework stand, big wood bowl to hold sewing, knitting

This big old wooden bowl with attached stand was being used to hold needlework and some artificial fruit when we first saw it, we have no idea what it's original intended purpose was!

It's about the size of a plant stand (26" tall, 15" in diameter across the rim of the bowl) and it must have once held something very heavy, as the legs of the stand have been poorly repaired in several places. It's sturdy, but the glue is lumpy at the mended joins where the legs meet the stem.

The wood bowl itself looks good, free of chips or cracks. We keep thinking how nice this would be to hold fluffy white popcorn...