One possibility is that they were old curtain or drapery weights. These were attached to fabric to help heavy curtains hang evenly and stay in place, especially in older homes.
They could also have been clock weights or window sash weights. Mechanical clocks used hanging weights to power their gears, while sash weights helped balance heavy wooden windows so they could open and close smoothly.
The exact purpose would depend on their size, weight, markings, and where they were found. Finding many identical pieces together suggests they probably belonged to an old household mechanical system rather than being decorations
