Each of these fasteners, cast and chiselled from steel, has an intriguing spiral shape. From India, and most probably Rajasthan, they seem to have been used to secure chain mail jackets closed, but perhaps also to attached items to chain mail.
A collection of these comprised lot 412 in Bonhams’ ‘Islamic & Indian Art’ sale, London, April 19, 2007, and were identified as such.
Each is stable and without repairs but with varying degrees of old rust staining.