Help Wanted

My room came with an interesting implement attached on the wall above the desk. I've spent the past month wondering what it is, and I have finally given up trying to figure this one out. Please help me. It looks like a spine, in 5 10 inch sections. The sections are pin jointed and can rotate about the pin. They look like this:



and this:



The spines are curved in such a way that I don't think you could hang anything off them.

Answers on a postcard....