Found this today on an old road that went out of use around 1920. The road pre-dates an 1851 map of Baltimore Co., MD and likely dates to at least 1810. Digging in the road bed one hits stones within the first inch. This piece looks to be brass on the front and lead-filled on the back with one remaining prong. In was ridden over as it is bent and has marks on the front. Do I have the ID right as a rosette? It measures 2-1/8th inch in width and height. Could this be a Confederate Cavalry piece?
I've found similar rosettes here in Ontario.
I don't believe this is a harness rosette, due to it's large size I'm thinking it's more likely a horse blinker or blinder rosette.
Here are a few examples I found in 2018.
You can see where the 'brass over lead heart' was still attached to the metal blinder with leather in between the metal backing and the rosette.
Looks like a martingale heart to me. Used by both sides and civilians. A lot of folks think all the heart stuff - martingales, buckle covers, heel plates - were all Confederate because they were essentially civilian manufactured, but they are found associated with both armies.
