Unusual 19TH century plane dated 1858

Now I am by no means a plane guy/guru but it would look to me like it might taper the side of a barrel/keg staves. Just my guess.
MIKE

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Some type of rounding or trapping plane?

The ovoid metal plate suggests it was made to follow an inside curve, which leads me to boatbuilding. After that, I’m stumped but eagerly awaiting further insights and theories.

Kindly,

Lee

-- "...in his brain, which is as dry as the remainder biscuit after a voyage, he hath strange places cramm'd with observation, the which he vents in mangled forms." --Shakespeare, "As You Like It"

If anyone of you go to France, do not miss this museum.
I go there every time I go back home:

http://www.maison-de-l-outil.com/index.php?page=accueil_anglais

Take bath-towels with you to clean all your drooling.

-- Bert

I like the boat building suggestion!

Carving a pushmi-pullyu?

-- More tools, fewer machines.