There are also antique curtain weights that were made in elaborate shapes and intended to add weight to fabric so curtains would hang properly. Some historical examples were made from cast iron, while others were made from lead.
That makes the “Christmas ornament” theory much less convincing.
Why Would an Old Curtain Need Something This Heavy?
Modern curtains are usually designed with relatively simple systems. A curtain rod, rings, hooks, or a track allows the fabric to move easily from one side to another.
Older homes sometimes used very different hardware.
Heavy curtains, especially those used in large rooms, formal houses, theaters, or older European interiors, could require weights to help the fabric fall correctly. A weight could be hidden inside a curtain, attached to a cord, or incorporated into a decorative tassel or pull.
The purpose was practical rather than decorative.
A curtain that is too light may not hang neatly. It can bunch up, twist, or move when there is a draft. A carefully positioned weight can help maintain tension and give the curtain a more controlled appearance.
Antique examples of drapery weights are sometimes beautifully decorated because household hardware was not always intended to be hidden. Some surviving examples are now sold as architectural or decorative antiques precisely because of their unusual appearance.
So something that looks mysterious today may once have been an ordinary part of decorating a home.
But There Is Another Strong Possibility: Old Clock Weights
There is another fascinating possibility.
The objects in the photograph also resemble antique clock weights.
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