I have puzzled over this beautiful find for years..

[ipsilateral]

I found this beautiful item in Charlottesville, VA a number of years ago..? I found Eagle buttons and civil-war era bullets in the vicinity.? In the same place, I found women's shoe buckles, glass bottles and a huge amount of junk that may have indicated a trash dump for an old house.? I also found a few relics that date to Revolutionary war in the area.

The lion appears to be made of bronze and is filled with lead on the back.? It would have hooked to something with a bronze fitting on the back that is shaped like ] that.? I thought it might be a rosette or bridle decoration, but I am mostly interested if anyone has seen the lion symbol before.?

 

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[lordmarcovan]

Re: I have puzzled over this beuatiful find for years..

It's indeed beautiful, and it definitely looks to be 19th century. I cannot really say what it is, but my money would be on some sort of furniture ornament. I've seen lions like that on coats of arms, but surely there are so many of them it would be hard to track down.

 

[ipsilateral]

Re: I have puzzled over this beuatiful find for years..

Cyn,

Yeah, thanks for the good information. Speaking from a heraldic point of view, the lion is likely British. Beyond that, I have little information. I did find the information you sent very interesting. I don't think that the piece was made for furniture. The back of the piece looks as if a piece of material was threaded through it, perhaps a leather bridle strap. I wish I could determine a little more about the age and specific origin. I appreciate the feedback!

Nathan