What are these brass things?

[Kevo_DFX]

I always seem to run into these at auctions. What the heck are they? They're probably around 6 inches in diameter and look like they were designed to hang on something.

 

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[AndyE89]

I think they look like Medallions. Cut brass Openwork brass, I always saw them as Americana and pretty cool. Here are a few links. ONE calls it a Home "wall hanger" which I suppose it could be.

Vintage Brass Horseshoe With Charles and by DatedandAntiquated

Vintage Horse Brass / Harness Wall Key Chain / by Luckytage

Madonna Virgin Mary Child Openwork Brass Medal | eBay

 

[cyberdan]

those are called Horse Brasses and go on the leather harness of horses that pulled the canal boats in England. I have several myself.

here is a link The Boat Shop Braunston - Horse Brasses

The best vacation in the world is spending a week or two on the British canals on a narrowboat. They are not pulled by horses anymore but don't go any faster.

 

[Kevo_DFX]

Thank you both!

 

[AndyE89]

Dan definitely has the right answer there. My mistake.

 

[cyberdan]

Dan definitely has the right answer there. My mistake.

your middle link is correct, a lot in England are just tourist collectibles.

 

[diggummup]

I've never heard of these before. Thanks for posting and thanks for the id too.

 

[Tallone]

My father brought a few of these home from England when he was stationed there during WWII. Cyberdan is correct, they are horse brasses. I was going to sell them on ebay a few months ago but my research suggested that the ones I had were of little value because there was nothing on them to indicate who made them or who they were made for. There are hundreds of horse brasses offered on ebay right now.