This mount of a medieval knight is shown coming out of a snail shell, riding a goat. It may have been worn as a badge on a belt...but why? The whole shebang is thought to connote cowardice. Why would you want to display it?
It dates from c.1200-1350 A.D.
This illustration, from the Milus Christianus allegory, shows a knight from roughly the same period, armed with virtues and heading out to fight evil. No snail shell for him.
The "snail man" was found in Pontefract in West Yorkshire last year, probably via metal detector. He's just one of the treasures found in recent years that have been put on display recently at the British Museum. Other finds include a bronze rapier (one of only 3 found in England), a Roman era-seal of an elephant, plus a bronze mirror, probably from a funeral set. And tweezers!
Update: I just found a reference to St. David's Day that said eating a "taffy" -- a gingerbread figure of a Welshman riding a goat -- was one of the ways to celebrate. Could this figure be a Welsh knight?
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