What is this household object from early 1900s rural Russia?

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Accepted answer

It's a Cветец (Svetetz), a device for holding a primitive torch called a Лучина (Luchina - splinter) or Rushlight, really just a splinter of wood or a piece of plant fiber dipped in grease.

Drawing of svetetz and lucina from Google Image Search

The Svetetz would need to be placed in a pool of water to prevent dropped ashes from starting a fire, so that could explain the raised yoke-like sides of the wooden piece. I can't find any pictures of another svetetz with a wooden part shaped this way, but the metal clips are pretty unmistakeable, as is the partially burned splinter.

Svetetz and lucina from Google Image Search Svetetz and lucina from Google Image Search

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