Lead Heart Mystery

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I found this piece on a c1860 homesite last week. The heart portion is made of lead and it's been mounted to a metal backing using the bent iron clips on the reverse.
Now that the piece has dried out after being washed, I can see that there's a piece of leather underneath the lead.
Did the leather completely cover the metal surface, if so, then what was this piece mounted to?

In the last pic I have shown it alongside a heart rosette I found on another site on the same road.
Did this come from a saddle or was it horse harness decoration?

Any thoughts would be appreciated, thanks.
Dave

 

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[ripvanb]

It might have been turned into a garden decoration

 

[invent4hir]

Dave, the backing metal looks ferrous. Where on the property was it found (i.e. near the front/rear of the home; further out in the yard where the privy once stood; etc.)? What was found in the hole with it or within a couple feet of it? These answers can help determine ID.

 

[creskol]

It may have been a leather clad martingale.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

It might have been turned into a garden decoration

Thanks very much for your suggestion ripvanb.

Dave, the backing metal looks ferrous. Where on the property was it found (i.e. near the front/rear of the home; further out in the yard where the privy once stood; etc.)? What was found in the hole with it or within a couple feet of it? These answers can help determine ID.

Thanks for your post invent4hir.
The backing metal is ferrous, there is a piece of leather in between the lead heart and the iron though.
I've indicated with an 'X' where I found this piece, it was on the west side of the front yard. I also found the 'Star' button and the brass padlock withing 2' of this piece.

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts,
Dave

It may have been a leather clad martingale.

I never thought of that creskol, interesting theory.
I've found martingales before, but they've always been mounted on leather only.
I'll post a pic here of the reverse side of a couple of martingales I found with the leather still intact.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[creskol]

I never thought of that creskol, interesting theory.
I've found martingales before, but they've always been mounted on leather only.
I'll post a pic here of the reverse side of a couple of martingales I found with the leather still intact.

Thanks,
Dave

I may be wrong, but I think yours were probably strictly strap ornaments. The martingale I am referring to is more functional and served as a union for the breast straps, similar to this one:

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I may be wrong, but I think yours were probably strictly strap ornaments. The martingale I am referring to is more functional and served as a union for the breast straps, similar to this one:

That's an interesting style of martingale, I've not seen that type before.
It would make sense though, as the metal back on the one I found has a round edge to it.

Thank you my friend,
Dave

 

[DCMatt]

Horse blinder?

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Horse blinder?

Thanks for your suggestion Matt.
Dave