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Description: | An incomplete cast copper alloy harness fitting or decoration with gold gilt, probably dating to the 17th century, between AD 1500 ? 1700 (length: 71mm; width: 47mm; thickness of main body: 5mm; weight: 19.5g). This harness fitting/ decoration is shaped in the form of a fleur de lys (length: 47.5mm; width: see above; thickness: see above) with a sub tear-drop shaped central fleur in the centre and two curled downwards and inwards to either side. There is a collar immediately below the main body of the fleur comprising of three prominent ridges (length of ridges: 6mm; width of ridges: 26mm; thickness of ridges: 3mm), the central of which is longer than the other two to the top and bottom. Below these decorative ridges, there are two complete ?tails? to the left and centre, although the ?tail? to the right has broken off at the base. There is an extensive amount of gold gilt remaining on the front surface of this artefact, particularly in the indentations between the decorative features and on the bottom of the artefact. On the back of the artefact, there are the incomplete remains of three probable curved hook attachments/ fittings: one at the top; one in the centre and the other at the bottom. The longest hook is in the centre with a length of 11mm, while the shortest is at the bottom with a length of 4mm). These hooks would have enabled the artefact to be attached on to a probable horse?s harness. The back of the main body of the artefact is also slightly recessed where it is raised at the front. Overall, the harness fitting or decoration is in a worn but fair condition with a dark green patina (where the gilding is absent). Additionally, there is a notable crack running across the artefact?s width above the ridged decoration, as well as the artefact being slightly bent out of shape. A similar example is illustrated in Bailey, G, 1992, ?Detector Finds?, page 87, ref no 9, which is described as a ?harness decoration of copper alloy, at one time gold gilt; 16th century.? | 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
1700 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
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