NZ Maori connection treen rack mystery

[Rick]

I'm not so sure this is a pipe rack .

Grandfather was a pipe smoker; his racks held the pipe stem up .
This rack looks like it would hold the pipe's stem pointing down .

I would also think that the moisture, tars etc. would run down the stem and provide a very untasty smoke .

I see no depressions under each hole to hold the pipe's bowl .