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Description: | A cast copper probable harness fitting or pendant. The fitting is composed of two components, the pendant element and the decorative fixture. The pendant is sub-circular in plan with an integral arm protruding from the upper edge. The circular section has a moulded design on the outer surface. The design is of a twelve petalled flower, with a second row of petals protruding behind. The petals all have a central groove with fine lines obliquely angled giving a feather-like appearance. On the reverse, in the centre, there is a shallow circular cell with a central, integral, circular sectioned rivet. The rivet is very short in depth, only 1.76mm deep. The terminal is slightly flattened forming a lip. The arm protruding from the upper edge is rectangular with rounded upper corners. The decorative fixture is attached to this arm. The top of the arm has a circular rivet hole. The decorative fixture is moulded in the form of a horse head that is set perpendicular to the pendant. The head has an integral rivet behind which is fixed into the rivet hole of the pendant element. The head is narrow in profile, but the side faces have moulded decoration, including a harness and bit. One side of the head is more accurately executed than the other. The surface of the object has traces of a dark green/grey patina, but this is underdeveloped. There is no abrasion or corrosion. The fitting measures 51.27mm long, 31.83mm wide across the pendant element and 17.71mm thick across the decorative horse-head fixture. It weighs 15.8g.
The detail of the moulded decoration on the decorative horse-head fixture and the pendant element suggests a Post Medieval date. Similar detail is not seen on earlier harness pendants or fittings. The depiction of a horse head does suggest it decorated harnesses, but how it was mounted is not certain. The underdeveloped patina and lack of abrasion or corrosion also suggests a Post Medieval date. | Format: | text/html | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ | Publisher: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Rights holder: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Subjects: | archaeology | Temporal: | 1600
1800 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Angie Bolton | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
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