Search:

Correct, known as a Strigil. Olive oil was first rubbed on, sometimes with coarse salt, and then the whole mess was scraped off taking a surprising amount of dirt with it.

Precisely! They make modern versions the looped scraper as well:

234217

That is exactly what it is. These were very common for scraping down pit ponies that worked the mines, cavalry horses, etc. It has just been misidentified by the seller. Here is a British military...