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Description: | Cast copper alloy heraldic harness pendant of probable 14th-century (1250 - 1450) date.
The pendant is sub-triangular (shield-shaped) in plan and sub-rectangular in cross-section. The edges of the shield are slightly beveled and the profile of the pendant is slightly bowed (convex). On the top of the shield is an integral cast suspension loop which is set at 90 degrees to the plain of the pendant. Through this suspension loop is a copper alloy rivet or pin. The pendant measures 18.4mm in length, 14.5mm in width, and it is mm 2.4thick. The suspension loop measures 6.8mm in length, 2.4mm in width and it is 3.7mm thick. The rivet or pin measures 5.7mm in length and 1.8mm diameter. The pendant weighs 3.05 grams.
The front face of the pendant has an enameled design. This consists of six elements; three small plain crosses and three crescents (positioned on their sides so that they form a U shape). These six elements are arranged thus: two crosses one each in the top left and right corners of the shields, directly below these crosses are two crescents. In the lower half of the shield is a centrally positioned cross and crescent arranged similarly. These elements might represent three crude ships,; the crescents being the hulls and the crosses the mast and cross pieces. All six elements are displayed on a background of black (sable) enamel. The rear of the pendant is plain and undecorated.
The harness pendant has a mid light green colour with an even patina. There are small patches of light green active powdery corrosion on many surfaces of the pendant. This is most evident on the front face where corrosion has caused small patches of enamel to crack and be lost. The pendant has also been slightly abraded in the soil. This abrasion has also resulted in a loss of enamel from the front surface and an irregular asymmetrical shape.
Similar shield-shaped heraldic horse-harness pendants have been dated to the middle of the medieval period, specifically the 14th century. This example is similar to Griffiths figure 2c. (Griffiths: 1986: Horse Harness Pendants. Finds Research Group Data Sheet 5). | Subjects: | Heraldic | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Reavill, Peter - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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