Pewter brooch, badge or buckle?

[greentree89]

As I dug this up, looking nothing like it does in the picture I took one look at it and chucked it in my junk bag. At first it was clumped in dirt and looked like a lump of metal. It was not until I got home as I sorted through my junk bag cleaning the pieces for recyling I started brushing the dirt off I saw a pattern and after pulling pieces of encrusted dirt off it and then rinsing it under water I saw what it was, I am not sure if it is some sort of badge or a buckle. It has a rusted bar attached to the back of it.
It is quite heavy, perhaps pewter or maybe even lead. There is one edge of that badge that must of been scraped as I dug it up as it has very shiny silver tone.
I try my very best not to scrape the items I dig up but I am still a novice at pinpointing the deeper targets. Every time I get very annoyed at myself

I found this very close to the 18th century crotal bell I dug up a while ago.

Would anyone recommend cleaning it with apple cider vinegar? Not sure if I should clean it any further, I've only given it a quick rinse so far.

Here are some pictures:

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges - Grab it through Amazon!

[btjbtj]

Oh it is just gorgeous. If it had a bar on the back, it could be a woman's brooch. What lovely detail. Not sure I'd clean it much more. Let's see what the others have to say. Congrats. -Lisa & John

 

[Pacivilwarluke]

That's really cool! the design is a tudor rose, and looks like it may be a bridle rosette! Awesome find!

 

[vonrall]

Probably a bridle rosette IMO

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on your find.

 

[CRUSADER]

Leave it as is.

I agree with others its what we Brits call a Horse Harness Boss/Mount/Furniture. Hard to date, as that fixing is odd, but I'm going with late 18th C.

 

[greentree89]

Thanks! I never would of thought of a bridle rosette but looking at pictures I can see how similar it is. I think I will get the last pieces of dirt off but will not clean it any further.

 

[Patriot Relics]

Gorgeous tutor rose motif rosette, congrats

 

[vpnavy]