|
Date: |
|
Description: | Medieval copper-alloy harness pendant and attachment mount. The mount, with the attached rivet, is still connected to the pendant with an iron pin. The pendant is a cast copper-alloy flat quatrefoil with angular projections between the petals and a complete suspension loop. The loop projects from the top and has a transverse piercing. The front is decorated with the letter W with a three pointed crown above. Any enamel or gilding is no longer visible however other examples of similar pendants have a gilded crown and red enamel W on a blue enamel background (SF-507827 and IHS-548CA2). The pendant, including the suspension loop is 34.8mm long, 24.8mm in diameter and 2.5mm thick. The suspension loop is approximately 7.1mm thick.The mount is a circular plate from which hang two loops and attached to the back is an integral rivet. It is also cast copper-alloy and again any gilding that may have decorated the front is no longer visible. At the back of the mount around the rivet is a mass of corrosion which contains a copper alloy sheet rove. The rivet presumably runs through the rove. The mount is 22.3mm in length including the double hoops, the circular front plate is 15.2mm in diameter, and 2.2mm thick and including the rivet, it is 9.5m thick. The end of the rivet has been burred and is 6.2mm in diameter. The rove is 12.7mm at its widest point and 0.8mm thick.The two loops hanging down from the mount flank the loop on the pendant, and all are connected by the iron pin. The iron has corroded and fixed the two parts of the harness pendant so they no longer move.Griffiths suggests that letters may represent a patron saint but those which have crowns may be identified as initials from a family name. (1995, 65). In this case though it is most likely to be referring to Walsingham, a medieval shrine in Norfolk. A pendant with a similar design on this database, IHS-548CA2, has an in-depth discussion on the relevance of Walsingham to the harness pendant. The pendant is most likely to date to the 14th century as the shape is a later type (Griffiths 1995, 62).
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
|
|