|
Date: |
|
Description: | A cast copper alloy Medieval heraldic harness fitting or 'banner' dating to c. 13th century. The fitting has a circular shank beneath a sub-rectangular collar or skirt that has moulded ribs above it; the banner at the apex of the fitting is lozenge shaped and bears the arms of the Ferrers family who held the Earldom of Derby in the 12th and 13th century; the arms is vairy or and gules. Traces of enamelling and some gilding survives. A number of harness fittings belonging to the Earl of Derby have been found in this vicinity. The Earl of Derby was the Lord of the Manor of Market End in Bicester.Commenting on a harness pendant with the same arms (DUR-650407),Irene Szymanski explains that "The de Ferrers were a powerful and bellicose clan, who married wives of the highest rank; for example, Earl William de Ferrers (died 1254) married Margaret de Quincy, daughter and coheiress of Roger de Quincy, earl of Winchester. Of William's sons, his heir, Robert, married first Mary de Lusignan, daughter of the count of la Marche and a niece of Henry III, and after her death, Eleanor de Bohun, daughter of Humphrey de Bohun; a younger son, William, married Joan, the daughter of Hugh le Despenser. However, the de Ferrers lost the earldom following Henry III's defeat of the de Montfort rebellion; Robert de Ferrers, after being captured and released once, was captured a second time and lost all his lands with the exception of Chartley in Staffordshire which, upon his death in 1279, passed to his son John. John de Ferrers continued using "vairy or and gules" as his arms in spite of the loss of the earldom; he also continued the family's martial tradition and served against the Scots on numerous occasions, dying in 1312 and leaving his son and heir, John, a minor". Thanks to Frances McIntosh for the reference. For another harness pendant of the Ferrers family found in the vicinity see BERK-B05C65.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
|
|