Some part of Drapery hardware? Maybe?

I have a box of these decorative whatsits, they came from a fire damaged mansion that sat for many years before we were called in to clean it out. Some were in a box, some stuck in the wall at completely random places as decoration (?) but I can’t imagine that they weren’t meant for some purpose.

Fleur de curtain holder? by AntiqueAnimals posted Mar 21, 2020 at 5:51 PM

Someone, please enlighten me! This mystery has been swimming around my thoughts for a few years now.

Form before function doorknob? by AntiqueAnimals posted Mar 21, 2020 at 5:51 PM

Decorative...? by AntiqueAnimals posted Mar 21, 2020 at 5:51 PM

 

At first I was thinking
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Br...Medallion-Floral-Flower-Pattern-/113687491954
But then noticed they are not threaded and you said they were stuck into the wall in random places?


Hey, wait...they are threaded! Maybe they are drapery holds like it seems we both thought.

 

How would that work though? You wouldn’t see the decorative side the way I am imagining it. There are many and some are threaded and some aren’t. They don’t fit perfectly but that could just be age I suppose. Maybe they hung tapestry or curtains to the wall? Maybe they are curtain hold-backs but it’s missing another piece. The way they were in the house they came out of was literally like polka dots on the wall.

 

Were they flat to the wall or were they standing away from the wall.
Will one thread into another?
Could these be picture hangers?

 

They look like rosettes to hang pictures from but they usually came with a hook to suspend the assembly from the plate rail below the ceiling line. If these were just punched randomly into plaster walls, I don't think they would support the weight of a picture or even a tapestry. Hmmm...this is a conundrum.

 

I say definitely curtain tie-backs. These were commonplace in Victorian and early 20th century houses. Were these placed next to windows where they belong? If not someone may have had fun and moved them around for kicks.
Similar: https://antiquehardwaresupply.com/c...ack-large-flower-button-polished-brass-finish

 

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They may have been on the ends of drapery rods like this:

 

Could they be ornate covers for the holes left where there was at one period of time gas light sconces on the wall? Is there any evidence that the house was ever piped for gas lights? Just a thought?

 

I'm fairly certain they're for curtain rods.

 

I don't know; you would only get the side view, which is not too pretty.