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Description: | A complete cast copper alloy heraldic horse harness pendant with traces of gold gilt, dating from the 13th/ 14th century, between AD 1250 ?? 1400 (length: 50mm; diameter: 39.5mm; thickness at loop: 6.5mm; weight: 9.0g). The main body of the pendant is circular in plan [Type IV, 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 a worn integral circular suspension loop (length: 11.5mm; width: 7.5mm; thickness/ depth: 6.5mm) on the end of a sub-rectangular sectioned shank set at a 90?? angle to the main body of the pendant. The front of the artefact is decorated with a series of criss-crossed and slightly raised gilded lines, which form a collection of square and rectangular boxes, with some gilding remaining within these segments. There appears to be a square border running around the outside edge of the pendant with opposing ??[?? and ??]?? shapes within, which themselves border around a central square. There are two rectangular outlined boxes entering the central square from opposing sides along the outside edge. These rectangular boxes then meet a similar rectangular box running in a differing 90˚ angle across the middle of the central square to form a ??+?? appearance. In each of the four corners of this cross within the central square, there is a single square outlined box. It appears that there was never any enamel on this pendant as there are no sufficiently recessed areas to contain this material. This artefact probably consisted of gilded and non-gilded areas to differentiate between the complex linear patterns that form the decoration. The back of the harness pendant is flat and undecorated. Overall, the artefact is in a worn but fair condition with none of the original patina remaining. Ward Perkins also states 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 |
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