|
Date: |
|
Description: | An incomplete and corroded cast copper alloy heraldic horse harness pendant with enamel remains, dating from the 13th/ 14th century, between AD 1250 ?? 1400 (length: 36mm; width: 21mm; thickness at incomplete suspension loop: 4mm; weight: 7.6g). The pendant is shield shaped in plan [Type I, as classified by Ward Perkins, J, B, 1940, 'London Museum Medieval Catalogue', page 118, fig 38] and flat in side section. At the top of the artefact, there is an incomplete worn and corroded integral suspension loop (length: 8mm; width: 3.5mm; thickness/ depth: 4mm) on the end of a square-sectioned shank set at a 90?? angle to the main body of the pendant. On the front of the pendant, there is an outline of a probable eagle spreading its wings with head facing to the left and surrounded by a substantial amount of red enamel. It appears that the recessed area where the eagle??s body is outlined could have could have been filled with green enamel as there are small traces of this colour surviving. There is no other decoration on the front of this pendant. The back of the harness pendant is flat and undecorated. Overall, the artefact is in a very worn and corroded condition with none of the original patina remaining. A similar heraldic design is illustrated on a pendant detailed in Ashley, S, 2002, 'East Anglian Archaeology 101: Medieval Armorial Horse Furniture in Norfolk', pages 15 & 40, fig 15, ref no 143. Another similar example is illustrated in Ward Perkins [1940], plate XVIII, ref no 2, which was found at Southwark. Although red enamel was also used on this similar example, the two pendants differ slightly as the Southwark example displays a double-headed eagle. Ward Perkins continues to state on p. 118 that pendants ??were attached to the harness in several ways. Usually they swing from a fitting, which was attached direct to the leather straps. This may consist of a horizontal bar with a downward projection for the attachment of the pendant??.Pendants were also worn from the strap across the horse??s forehead.?? | Subjects: | heraldic | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Johnson, Caroline - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
|
|