What is it?

[stranding]

What is the size of the item? Is it made of silver?

Length about 22 cms /8 & half ins.
It's very light, weighs less than a gram.
No, not silver. Thin steel wire.
One on its own is no good, you would need more to be any use.
Here's another:

 

[scifan57]

Could you show a view of the other end of the item?

 

[AdmiralAdama]

Looks like the handle of a basting brush.

AA

 

[stranding]

Looks like the handle of a basting brush.
AA

No. Another:

 

[scifan57]

Is it one of those steel pins you use when lacing up the opening in a chicken after stuffing it?

 

[stranding]

Could you show a view of the other end of the item?

That's it...!

 

[scifan57]

That's it...!

What's it?

 

[stranding]

Is it one of those steel pins you use when lacing up the opening in a chicken after stuffing it?

No.
Mmm. You are obviously familiar with that procedure.

 

[stranding]

What's it?

That's the other end!
The third pic shows the centre, more or less.

 

[scifan57]

That's the other end!
The third pic shows the centre, more or less.

So,there's a loop at each end as well as a loop in the middle?

 

[stranding]

So,there's a loop at each end as well as a loop in the middle?

Yes.
Think textiles.
The whole thing:

Clue: it would normally be used in a vertical position but not always.

 

[scifan57]

Are these items used by themselves or are they attached to something else while in use?

 

[stranding]

OK, think weaving on a multi- shaft loom.

 

[stranding]

Are these items used by themselves or are they attached to something else while in use?

On a loom, they are attached top & bottom, fairly loosely so they can shuffle sideways slightly. Something else goes through the centre eye.

 

[scifan57]

Would this item be a wire heddle used to separate the warp threads when weaving?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Heddle2.JPG