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Description: | A complete cast copper alloy shield-shaped harness pendant with part of the fitting attached to the suspension loop (length: 33.2mm; width: 19.5mm; thickness: 1.2mm; weight: 5.15g). The small shield-shaped pendant has a slightly raised rampant lion facing right with tail curling inwards. The suspension loop is complete and has part of one stem still attached at the loop probably by a hinge or pin mechanism. There are traces of gilding particularly on the stem as well as partly on the front of the pendant itself. The back of the artefact is flat with no decoration. the general condition of the artefact is poor and corroded with drk brown patina.There are two similar pendants illustrated in John Cherry's 'Harness Pendants' chapter in Peter & Eleanor Saunders' (ed) 'Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum Medieval Catalogue: Part 1', pages 19 & 24, ref nos 3 & 7. The rampant lion and shape of no 3 are very similar to this example except for the tail curling outwards and lion facing the wrong way. Ref no 7 has two pendants also still attached to their fittings and a ball on top of a tubular stem. Cherry adds that 'pendants were suspended either from the peytral, the breast band, or from the head stall, a fitting projecting upwards from the horse's head, or from the crupper (page 17).
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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