We had something similar in Portland (west)last week, only it turned out to be a metal cylinder that -- I believe -- keeps safe and secure some of the holy water used to baptize a baby. The wife wrapped it as a present, and sent it with her spouse, not bothering to tell him what it was, so when the airport security questioned him about it, all he could say was "I dunno." Paper called it "a baptizmal device", and described it as looking like a metal capsule.
Net result -- he was detained and the airport closed down for a while.
I've stopped fastening all my pennywhistles together with an elastic band when I travel, but I still have to show them off every now and then.
Blessings,
Barbara