This item, likely dating from the late medieval period, was discovered during excavations conducted in the 1970s at the archaeological section of the Winchester Museum on Victoria Road in Winchester, Hampshire.
It served as an adornment for leather goods, such as belts, shoes, or horse harnesses. The original leather object to which it was attached has deteriorated in the ground over the centuries, leaving behind the metal component. This type of ornamentation was commonly used during medieval times to embellish and enhance the aesthetic appeal of various leather items.