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Description: | An incomplete copper alloy harness pendant of Medieval date. It is flat and square in shape, with the remains of an oval shaped suspension loop at the centre of the upper edge. This has been bent forwards whilst in the ground and is missing the main section of the loop itself. The back face of the pendant is slightly concave and is undecorated. The front face bears an enamelled and gilded heraldic device, probably of the Dukes of Brittany (in particular John de Bretagne, Earl of Richmond and Duke of Brittany, and his heirs). This comprises a shield Chequy or and azure within a bordure gules, overall a canton ermine (blue and gold checked shield with a red border and an ermine canton in the top left hand corner). Traces of the blue enamelling can be noted in some of the squares within the shield, as can red enamelling in the bordure and traces of gilding particularly at the top of the pendant. The pendant measures 26.14mm in length, 22.36mm in width, and weighs 4.52g.Edward Martin (Suffolk CC) notes that the 13th or 14th century Walford's Roll (no. 24) records the arms of "Le counte de Bretaine, eschekeré d'or e d'azur a une kantelle d'ermine a un bordure de goule". John de Bretagne, Earl of Richmond and Duke of Brittany was born in 1239, married Beatrice daughter of King Henry III of England, became Duke of Brittany in 1285 and died in 1305 while attending the coronation of Pope Clement V at Lyons. He was succeeded as Duke of Brittany by his eldest son, Arthur (1262-1312) and as earl of Richmond by his second son, John (1266-1334) (Edward Martin, Pers. Comm.). The arms depicted on the pendant therefore suggest a date in the later 13th or 14th century for the current example.
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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