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Description: | Cast copper alloy harness pendant of probable 14th-century (c.1250 - c.1450) date. The pendant is sub triangular (triangular with rounded lobe like corners) in plan and sub-rectangular in cross-section. The edges of the front face are slightly beveled and the profile of the pendant is slightly bowed (convex). On the top edge of the pendent is an integral cast suspension loop which is set at 90 degrees to the plain of the pendant. The top of this loop is broken possibly through wear. The pendant measures 31.4mm in length, 23.3mm in width, and is 6mm thick. The pendant weighs 4.87 grams. The front face of the pendant has a regular cast design which is formed from a series of diagonal cast recesses. These recesses would have originally have been filled with a coloured enamel, however this has decayed and been lost. The overall design seems to have been geometric in plan being formed from a series of diagonal lines set on two angles arranged around a central vertical upright. The overall design could be compared to either a Christmas tree or fish bone pattern although the initial design would not represent either of these. This central design was contained by a border which extended around the edge of the pendant. The front face of the pendant was also decorated with an applied gilt finish. Many areas of this surface remain, however others have been lost through corrosion. The rear of the pendant is plain and undecorated. The harness pendant is a light green and mid purple brown colour with an abraded and much corroded patina that covers all un-gilt surfaces. There are a number of large areas of light green active powdery corrosion present, especially on the rear of the pendant and on the central pattern. The pendant has also been abraded in the soil. This abrasion has resulted in irregular asymmetrical shape. Similar shaped horse harness pendants have been dated to the middle of the medieval period, specifically the 14th century (Griffiths: 1986: Horse Harness Pendants. Finds Research Group Data Sheet 5).
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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