Digging through a junk bin at a rummage sale and found this ornate metal cone. It has a tiny pin attached to a chain and a handle that folds out into a tripod. What in the world is this thing?

that folds out into a tripod offer the first clues. The chain and pin seem to serve as a clasp or fastening mechanism, while the tripod handle suggests stability and display. These features are not typical of purely ornamental objects, indicating a functional purpose alongside the decorative aspect.

The tripod handle, when unfolded, allows the cone to stand upright, suggesting that whatever its function, it was meant to be displayed prominently. The pin and chain could serve to secure something inside or perhaps to attach the cone to a piece