Hi Jim,
Indeed Stone puts the question mark on the origin and not on the age, i would say
.
Despite the caged style of Stone's example inspiring the provenance of the discussed examples, there are in these units multiple allegories to the wealthy rural ambiance.
The main suspension arch resembles that of a horse shoe, the front branches look like those of a sword guard (as already approached) and the foot plates seem to be featuring cattle irons or Ranch insignia, as you have well put.
Somehow this feature set doesn't suggest Germanic provenance ... but i know nothing
