From the pdf, "My guess is that it was used by a watchcase maker ..."
I agree. The innards of some fine watches and clocks often have swirls of patterns that could be made with something like this. I think such rose engine work seems to have preceded applications to wood.
Cheers,
Joe
__________________
Of course truth is stranger than fiction.
Fiction has to make sense. - Mark Twain | 
Mystery Chuck 
