Dragon?

[mozzie1957]

Found this today, with my detector, on some old workings near Bendigo.
Also found 2 buttons, a buckle and a little .2 of a gram nug.
Old Chinese artifact? Dragon? Seahorse? Any help identifying greatly appreciated.

 

[Teemore]

No idea what it is but sure looks cool .... can always ask at the Chinese Museum in Bendigo I suppose.
Nice find,
Cheers Tom

 

[Martin]

Nice find, how big is it?

 

[mozzie1957]

Nice find, how big is it?

40 mm long. Should've taken the pic with something in it for comparison size-wise.

 

[Paulmarr]

Very interesting - is it gold?

 

[Martin]

Some sort of brooch maybe?

 

[mozzie1957]

Very interesting - is it gold?

I wish! Bronze? Brass? Have to clean it up to tell, but
a little reluctant to do so. Think it's pretty neat as it is.

 

[loamer]

That wear mark on the neck - possible belt buckle? nice find mate. mullock heap?

 

[mozzie1957]

That wear mark on the neck - possible belt buckle? nice find mate. mullock heap?

Hard to tell. Beside a tree in an area where everything's been turned over.

 

[loamer]

is it my imagination or if you turn it on its side, it looks like an animal of some sort? cat or something like it. (tilt your head left)

 

[Goldpick]

Interesting find, maybe it's a little guy with his arms in the air fleeing the dragon?

 

[outboard]

i think it is a Chinese belt hook , the figure on the side is a "happy Buddha"

 

[Wally69]

Quite a common item for military forces in the 1800s, both UK and US

Here is link to an example of an early Victorian military forces snake buckle

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/victoria3.htm

 

[the duck]

it is a snake buckle or duckhead buckle hey have been around since the 15th century and were originally roman in design used by cicl war soldiers and our own they are still available today but yours is around 1850s

 

[gcause]

Think you are right outboard I have seen one of these on another forum definitely a belt hook.

 

[casper]

Think you are right outboard I have seen one of these on another forum definitely a belt hook.

agree... next time you notice a pic of one of the male royals in the Dress uniform or the Mess uniform of the historic regiments they are attached to look closely and you will likely see one.

casper