I think it is a small picture frame that held a pic of a soldiers's sweetheart or mother, or wife or wife and kids, or family, or dog in the civil war era. Just a guess. Monty
The style of it is late victorian which kills the CW connection. I agree with Cheyenne (which incidently is coming on the "western channel" in 3 minutes!) and think it is door hardware, maybe even an embellishment to an early door bell button. I wish I had an old Sears catalogue from the era!