Found this today at an old millhouse site in PA dating back to the mid 18oo's. At first I thought it was some kind of strange key, then maybe a winder to a grandfather clock. Pretty sure it is not a drawer pull, as the rectangular part had been cast twisted away from the ring. Any ideas?
It is a "fancy" version of a horseharness gag-chain's end. A gag-chain was part of the horse's bridle-and-bit harness. See photo below, showing a page from a 1907 horsegear catalog. Look at the bottom of the gag-chain, at lower right.