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Description: | A cast, copper alloy, medieval heraldic harness pendant with enamel and gilding, dating from 1250-1400. The heraldry is azure, three eagles displayed Or.It is a "heater shaped" shield similar to "London Museum Medieval Catalogue", page 118, figure 38(I). It is complete with its suspension loop, although the hole is blocked. Virtually all the enamel remains, though matt and dark; as does considerable gilding on the shield and the loop. There is some brown and green patina/verdigris mostly visible on the reverse of the shield. It measures 44.08mm including the loop x 27.86mm wide x 3.32mm thick. The loop itself is 13.24mm long x 8.06mm thick. It weighs 15.95gm.The heraldry is azure (blue), three eagles displayed or (gold). The eagles heads face to the left (sinister). In addition to this is red (gules), in and around each of the eagles beaks. Sometimes red is used for eagles beaks and legs, when the rest of the colour of the bird is different. This is termed beaked and membered gules, or armed gules. See UKDFD Ref. No. 72412 for a good example on a single eagle. On the PAS database BERK-A8F938 a banner shows a single eagle with a red body and blue beak and legs. In the case of the pendant in this entry the beaks and legs are gilt like the rest of the eagles. The red must represent the blood of the prey that the eagles have just vanquished. Alternatively, the red may be caused by the blue enamel decaying, as ancient enamel often turns red as it starts to decay.The arms are borne by the Bibblesworth family, in the St George Roll of 1285, and the Parliamentary Roll of 1312. See Humphery-Smith "Anglo Norman Armory Two" page 203. He also quotes other Rolls of Arms with. similar surnamed individuals. Hugh and Walter are the Christian names used. See also Foster "Dictionary of Medieval Heraldry", page 21."The Treatise of Walter Bibblesworth", an Englishman of the late thirteenth century, wrote about aspects of everyday life in Anglo- Norman, the language of the knightly class. He could be one of the Walters in the Rolls.It has not been possible to find another example of these arms on the PAS database, or the UKDFD.
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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