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Description: | A copper-alloy horse harness pendant of Medieval date.The central feature of the pendant is a raised shield bearing the following arms: Or an eagle displayed sable. Much of the black enamel infill is missing and only tiny traces of the field's gilding survive. A recessed rectangular panel surrounds this shield; it contains a pair of inverted, moulded fleurs-de-lis, which angle from the bottom end of the shield, towards the bottom right and left corners of the panel, respectively. Moulded pellets occupy the remainder of the panel. Projecting outwards from the sides of the pendant, arranged so to suggest an equal-armed cross, are four rectangular tabs, the upper surfaces of which have been cross-hatched. A lis-like projection angles outwards from each of the four gaps between the cross arms, and right-angled hanger surmounts the pendant. A copper-alloy rivet with domed head sits within a perforation at the bottom point of the central shield, its purpose uncertain. Traces of gilding survive across the heavily corroded upper surface of the pendant.Height: 40.2mm; width: 31.1mm; thickness (including rivet): 6.2mm; weight: 10.3g.The arms on this pendant are difficult to attribute as they were used by a number of different families (see Papworth 1874: Vol. 1, p. 301). It is possible that corrosion may have resulted in the loss some of detail which may have helped to provide a more precise identification. The design of the pendant itself is unusual, but PAS record LEIC-48DED6 provides a parallel. The suggested date of this piece is 13th to 14th century.
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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