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Description: | Cast copper alloy harness pendant of probable medieval (c.1250 - c.1450) date. The pendant is sub circular in plan and broadly 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 plane of the pendant. The pendant measures 26.8mm in length, 18.5mm in width, is 5.7mm thick, and weighs 7.94 grams. The front face of the pendant has a regular cast design which is unusual for the type of artefact. It consists of a central raised zoomorphic element which could be a representation of a large cats (such as leopard or lion) head. The head is raised 3.2mm above the plane of the pendant. Some of the detail of the design has been lost through abrasion but it seems as if the hair is depicted in a series of vertical ribs and the two ears extend either side of this. The face is formed with a large triangular wedge shaped snout and small pellet eyes. The animals head is raised above the level of the pendant, the surrounding area is decorated with raised pellets and the edge of the pendant has a slight rim to it. The reverse face is flat and undecorated. The whole of the pendant has been gilt and much of this applied surface survives, The harness pendant is a mid brown green colour with an abraded patina that covers all un-gilt surfaces. There are a number of large areas of light green active powdery corrosion present, especially on the front of the pendant where abrasion has removed the patina. This abrasion has also resulted in irregular asymmetrical shape. A direct parallel has not been found for this example; however, the shape and type of pendant is well known in the record and broadly dates to the 13th-15th centuries. It is suggested that this example fits with the material from the later part of the period.
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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