this is getting better , I'm looking at this thing like clamp (obviously I was drink en beer or watch en nascar or both) trying to figure it out, and low and behold I start to see a face and a fire place right in the middle. Man what are they putting in watermelons these days. The texture and suppressed highlights work well.
I guess it is a type of a clamp. It was made for stretching hats, the piece itself is shaped like a high collar, the two pieces held together by a turnbuckle in the middle. When you turn the turnbuckle it presses outward against the hat brim... but you knew that... Thanks again Mike for your comments!