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Description: | Medieval copper alloy horse harness pendant and pendant suspension mount set. Both take the form of a scallop shell, although the mount appears to be scalloped around its entire edge. The set measures 42mm in length and is max.14.5mm wide (both mount and pendant widths). The set weighs 4.9g.
The pendant suspension mount is convex to the front and hollow to the reverse, with a central peircing for a rivet 2mm in diameter. The metal is much thinner (0.8mm) than that of the pendant (1.2mm). Radiating grooves around the edge create the scalloped look. Some of the patina is missing. Extending below the mount are the slightly splayed arms which are bent back on themselves (to the reverse) to hold in place the axis bar on which the pendant hangs. The mount itself measures 25.5x14.5mm.
The pendant is convex to the front and hollow to the reverse, and takes the form of a shell. Two grooves define the stem of the shell (from which the loop extends) and another six define the ribs and crenellated edges. At the centre is a 2mm diameter piercing. This would have held the pendant in place. The loop is turned through 90??. The pendant itself is 21.5mm in length (and 14.5mm wide).
The image of the scallop shell represents pilgrimage (St James de Compostela) and is often depicted on horse harness pendants. Three other complete sets of scallop shell decoration are recorded on the Portable Antiquities Database, WILT-904CF5 from Wroughton, Wiltshire, SF-03C3E4 from Little Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire and SF7447 from Cockfield, Suffolk.
Late 13th to mid 14th century in date. | Subjects: | set | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Hinds, Katie - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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