HARNESS FITTING

Medieval gilt upright swivelling ‘banner’ from horse harness, two parts (now separate) comprising shield with horizontal loop projecting from one side to swivel on vertical bar with narrowed terminals (acting as integral rivets), the uppermost burred-over. Both faces of shield with gilt and enamelled armorial decoration: Or a fleur-de-lis Sable. Cf. Ashley (2002) nos. 241-3, closest to no.242. The bar probably originally projected vertically from the centre of a copper-alloy mount with two rectangular openings for leather straps to pass through, similar to that supporting a rectangular banner shown in Cherry (1991), Fig.2, no. 12. A circular example from London, complete with mount, is shown in Ward-Perkins (1940, Fig.40, no. 2), whilst another, from Mere Down, Wiltshire, can be dated to between 1351-61 (Shortt 1951). Bar: length 33mm, diameter 5.5mm. Shield: height 23mm, width 16mm, width loop 27mm. 14th century.