ID please

[Davidrez1212]

Hi all.hope you can please help id this for me.
It weighs 180 grams and is a solid piece.it seems to be bronze.it looks handmade as its not uniform in shape.the hole looks punched.any help much appreciated.

[Blackadder43]

The head looks rather seahorse shaped?
I did try to imagine it in a weather vane type thing, but cant work out how it would fit as the hole seems wrong...

Hope someone sensible comes along soon to take a look
Interesting find Lovely patina too

[Davidrez1212]

Thank you.i cant figure how it would fit in anything usefull myself.

[Chrisb]

The hole looks to be square which would suggest it was connected to something that it turned, what that something was though eludes me!

[Steve_JT]

Could it be a clock winder?
Wrong angle for a barrel tap key methinks

The piece missing / broken off may have been for opening the case of a clock, large clock such as a grandfather clock

Regards Steve

[Davidrez1212]

Same here haha

[Steve_JT]

Here’s a wild stab in the dark, could it be a zoomorphic rein guide from something horse drawn

Regards Steve

[Dave The Slave]

Interesting find.
For some reason, probably because i was down the beach this morning, my initial thought was row locks but probably wrong.
Looking forward to seeing what it is and the age.
Cheers,
Dave.

[Blackadder43]

In the last photo the square (ish) hole is off centre to the upright section, possibly indicating some sort of winder

On the first photo there looks to be something missing, maybe a counterweight to the front end?

Almost like one of those mechanical nodding things, although why choose a horse/seahorse is beyond me....

[Ladybird66]

Here’s a wild stab in the dark, could it be a zoomorphic rein guide from something horse drawn

Regards Steve

That was my thought as well Steve. The part with the square hole would have been the centre fixing point, secured with a bolt.
It could be something very interesting age wise but needs a lot more research.

[Davidrez1212]

Thank you everyone.real strange one.would love to know a date on it too which may lead to the purpose a little more easily.

[tone]

i'll take a punt. pre medieval purse frame/hanger.?

[Easylife]

That's an intriguing nice find.
It was joined to iron and perhaps a levered mechanism?
I feel that it will be ID'd at some point, but it's quite irritating not knowing in the meantime.

[Oxgirl]

I think it might be a roman or even iron age cheek piece for horse bit

Here’s the idea of what I mean, although this is not the same... https://www.dia.org/art/collection/obje ... -bit-64260

[Easylife]

I think it might be a roman or even iron age cheek piece for horse bit

Here’s the idea of what I mean, although this is not the same... https://www.dia.org/art/collection/obje ... -bit-64260

Good call, certainly a possible contender but yet to see a close match of it's configuration