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Description: | An incomplete cast copper alloy heraldic horse harness pendant and mount with traces of gold gilt, dating from the 13th/ 14th century, between AD 1250 - 1400 (length: 38mm; width: 48mm; thickness: 14.5mm; weight: 7.1g).The harness mount (length: 14.5mm; width: 48mm: thickness: 5mm) at the top of the artefact is a sub rectangular bar in plan with a single attachment loop at either end as well as an additional worn and corroded pointed terminal at each tip. The mount is bent over the main body of the pendant at a 90˚ angle, with the hinge mechanism still complete and holding the mount and pendant together using a copper alloy pin. The main body of the pendant (length: 38.5mm; width: 20.5mm; thickness: 2mm) is an incomplete sexfoil/ star in plan with a flat side section (only the left side of the pendant remains). Four protruding knobs remain around the central circular area, including one at the top of the artefact, which is connected to the hinge mechanism and another at the bottom of the artefact, which has a drilled circular hole (diameter of hole: 2.5mm) in the centre. The front of the artefact is decorated with a slight recessed area containing traces of blue enamel, which surrounds a probable slightly raised shield in the centre (length of possible shield: 12mm; width of possible shield: 9.5mm). The harness mount and connected pendant are in a very worn and heavily corroded condition, making it difficult to identify particular features or decoration. There are small traces of gilding on the front of the pendant, particularly under the hinge mechanism and around the central circular area. The most substantial area of gilding remains on the back of the pendant.A similar example is illustrated in Read, B, 2001, 'Metal Artefacts of Antiquity: A Catalogue of Small Finds from Specific Areas of the United Kingdom Volume One', pages 49 & 56, fig 35, ref no 448, which was found in South Somerset.Ward Perkins states Ward Perkins states in the 'London Museum Medieval Catalogue' [1940] 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.'
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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