Found this in yard of old house built in 1800s

[ticotiger14]

Found this in yard of old house built in 1800's

Found this in old House Yard. It's bigger than a silver dollar with a Roman head embossed on it. Anybody got any ideas what this is. I have found similar pieces without Roman head but same edge design.
HH, tico

 

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[Calico Jack]

Re: Found this in yard of old house built in 1800's

Any idea what it's made of?

 

[ticotiger14]

Re: Found this in yard of old house built in 1800's

It appears to be copper or brass

 

[Calico Jack]

Re: Found this in yard of old house built in 1800's

If you found other similar pieces in the same area, I'd guess it's a game piece of some sort.

 

[lonewolfe]

Re: Found this in yard of old house built in 1800's

No idea but cool find!

HH

Lonewolfe

 

[Calico Jack]

Re: Found this in yard of old house built in 1800's

The medallion you have is more than likely Greek and not Roman. The outer band is called Greek Key pattern. If the exterior of the house is (or was) brick or block, it may have been modeled after a Greek revival home, and utilized the medallions in the design.

I was thinking that too, but the helmet looks more Roman (moving parts) and I found references to the border as Roman Key as well. And if these objects were mounted on the house, it would seem strange that they are double sided, unless they were not originally intended for that purpose.

 

[Prairie Drifter]

Re: Found this in yard of old house built in 1800's

Hi,
This is most likely a horse's bridle rosette. One of a pair of harness decorations which have been in use for many centuries. The size and construction (stamped metal) is right on for this. I have dug many here in Michigan, at old home sites dating throughout the 1800's (they still make them today/ see links below). They came in endless styles of stamped designs. Some were stamped brass or copper. I even found some made of pewter. The stamped metal ones came in both lead filled backs, in which a thick wire loop was set in the lead. Or without lead backs, were the wire loops were soldered directly on to the back. Often, over time, the lead filled backing (or soldered wire loop) will deteriorate and fall off, leaving just the stamped front, which you appear to have here. Of the many I have seen, yours is one of the nicest designs.

It's design is reflective of the Greco/Roman Revival period of the Victorian era, and would most probably date it within the 19th Century.

Hope this helps.

Here are some links to photos of bridle rosettes, both antique and modern. The last one shows how the back loop would have looked:

http://www.beltplates.com/pewterrosette.html

http://www.myhorsetack.com/images/hhss_2.JPG

http://www.myhorsetack.com/images/bearrosettes.JPG

http://www.thecavalry.net/images_prod/rosettesusa.jpg

http://www.buttermilkhillantiques.com/count/item436.jpg