Old Iron Hand-shaped (Presumed) Branding Iron whitework possibly original to the piece

possibly original to the piece and visible only when turned upside down

it is super smooth and almost seems petrified

like me (who might also use it just for drawing angles and straight lines)

It is indeed the very little things that often make me the happiest

Hans Gehrig and Rafael Alfandary

Old Iron Hand-shaped (Presumed) Branding Iron whitework possibly original to the pieceI can't figure out anything this could be other than a branding iron; there are gaps at either side where the hand meets the handle that make it seem unlikely that it would work as a mold or cutter of some sort. Assuming the former, I'd guess that the arm once fit inside some sort of extension, so that when hot it would not burn one's hand when using. It appears to me that it was hand forged, and is quite old (and heavy, weighing almost 2 pounds) and