Silver Bell ID Needed

[Carolina Tom]

I was at a lot that used to have a house on it, I got a nice high tone, dug a hole and out popped this bell, it says "sterling" on it. The bell is open in the back, and sorta flattened, it was made that way. Any ideas what this was used for?
Thanks.

 

[JimDon]

Tom,

Looks like it may be a Christmas ornament.

 

[park pirate]

Dont no what it was used for, but its sure nice...

 

[Carolina Tom]

Hello JimDon,
I though Christmas ornament too, but why is the backside of the bell open? You could hang a regular bell on a tree. It has a point for a clapper to attach inside the bell, so it is a bell for sure. I just can't imagine why the back would need to be open. It almost looks like it was made to go onto something else...like one of those bell yolks that they put on horses at Christmastime... I just don't know...