Does anyone know what this item is? What it was used for?

This came from my mother-in-law's family farm (built in the late 1800s), and I'm trying to help her identify what it was used for. Our best guess so far is some kind of telephone junction box cover, but we could be way off base. Can anyone identify what it might be? If so, she would be eternally grateful since the curiosity is getting the best of her! Thank you so much for your input!