Rights Holder: Museum of London
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
HARNESS PENDANT
Unique ID: LON-E35E8F
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An incomplete medieval copper alloy shield pendant, dating late 13th- early 14th century. The pendant is in the form of a heater shield with an integral suspension loop at the top. The loop is now broken and worn so that the loop itself is no longer present, and only a short projection remains. The object has been bend slightly at the base. It has a dark brown patination and much of the enamelling which would have been present in the decoration is now missing.
The shield is likely to have been checky or and azure within a bordure gules, with a canton ermine [gold and blue check within a red border and the top left quarter with an ermine design. Traces of the red are still present around the border, though the rest of the colouration is speculation. There also appear to be other motifs within the border, but this are difficult to see due to wear. This heraldry can be seen in the Fairfax window at Gilling castle, North Yorkshire, and possibly belongs to John de Bretagne (AD 1266-1344) or another member of the house of Dreux.
Dimensions: length: 35.17 mm; width: 23.67 mm; thickness: 1.74 mm; weight: 4.53g.
Notes:
Arms: Bretagne, de (possibly)
Class: heraldic
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Middle
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1250
Date to: Circa AD 1350
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 35.17 mm
Width: 23.67 mm
Thickness: 1.74 mm
Weight: 4.53 g
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Enamel
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Heraldic
Completeness: Incomplete
Surface Treatment: Inlaid with enamel
Spatial data
No spatial data available.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: NMS-4929D8
Object type: HARNESS PENDANT
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
Medieval horse harness pendant, shield-shaped (16 x 28mm), corroded, red and blue enamel and traces of gilding survive. Checky Or and Azure a…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: SF-1C4EC6
Object type: HARNESS PENDANT
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
An incomplete copper alloy harness pendant of medieval date. It is flat and square in shape, with the remains of an oval shaped suspension lo…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: BH-E248C4
Object type: HARNESS PENDANT
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A Medieval copper-alloy harness pendant.
The shield-shaped pendant is heavily corroded and little of the enamelling or surface coatings su…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618