It's really common for general antiques people to label something in a way that matches either similar things they've seen, or as similar things that are currently popular.
My mom- when she still could collected egg cups. Over the years they went in and out of popularity.
When they were popular, other stuff that didn't have a clear use and was about the right size would get called an egg cup. Like toothpick holders, partial salt cellers, And if they were currently very popular shot glasses and eye cups....
When they were unpopular, and tooth pick holders were popular many became toothpick holders.
That works for lots of other stuff. Like a hand crank apple peeler becomes a pencil sharpener. Early! Rare! .....and totally NOT a pencil sharpener..
The writer is probably familiar with some form of pen wiper, so every cloth promotional item about that size is to them a pen wiper.
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