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Description: | A complete unusual copper-alloy cast horse harness pendant attached to its pendant suspension mount in very good condition.
The pendant suspension mount consists of a horizontal bar, which is rectangular in plan with rounded corners, measuring 28.7mm in width, 5.6mm in height and 5mm in thickness, it has a rounded front face and a flat back face. Projecting from either end of the back face of this bar there is a cylindrical projection, measuring 6.9mm in lenght and 3.2mm in width, these projections would have attached the pendant suspension mount to a leather harness strap. Projecting from the centre of the lower edge of the horizontal bar of the suspension mount there is a vertical spilt hinge part, 8.1mm in length and 7.1mm in width. Both halves of the hinge split have a rivet though them, forming a horizontal bar, from which the pendant swings freely.
The pendant has a suspension loop set at 90 degrees to the plane of the pendant. It is shaped like a walking lion in profile, facing right, it measures 26.3mm in width and 25mm in length, including the suspension loop, the lion itself is 17.6mm in height. The lions head is now worn but protruding ears can be seen, a small circular indentation represents the eye and the mouth is open. The body is narrow, and all four legs are shown sperately, each leg has a large paw, with three toes clearly protruding. The tail is long and curves backwards to run parallel with the length of the lions back, it touches the back of the head and then curves sharply to again run parallel to the lions back, it tapers towards its tip which is above its base. There is a small circular hole, c2.5mm in diameter to seperate the two loops of the tail from each other behind the head. The front face of this lion is slightly rounded and the back face is flat. Traces of gilding can be seen both on the front face of the pendant suspension mount and the lion itself.
This lion pendant is unususal and no parallel for such a lion could be found. It is medieval in date and probably most likely to be 14th century. | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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