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HARNESS PENDANT
Unique ID: WMID-BA4137
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A complete enamelled copper alloy heraldic harness pendant of Medieval dating (14th Century AD).
The pendant is of the 'heater' shield shape (a flat top, with sides that curve steeply to a point). The upper edge has an integrally cast suspension loop, which is sub oval in plan and set at right angles (ninety degrees) to the pendant. It is angled forwards, with an oval pierced loop.
The front of the pendant features moulded heraldic decoration in the form of a diagonal stripe (bend), with a bendlet to either side. Traces of blue enamel are present on either side of the bend. The devices to either side of the bend are unclear, but may consists of several lion ramparts. In heraldic terms, this can be described as Azure a bend cotised between [ ].The back of the pendant is plain and undecorated.
It measures 38.1 mm in length, 24.6 mm wide and 6.2 mm thick. It weighs 7.5 grams.
Heraldic horse harness pendants are considered to be 14th Century in dating. Despite the decoration being incomplete, it is possible that this harness pendant bore the device of the de BOHUN family, the Earls of Hereford and Essec, which consists of 'azure a bend cotised between six lions rampart'. Several harness pendants bearing this device have been recorded on the PAS database including: HESH-4A3A63, DOR-685007 and SOM-6D0E73.
Notes:
Arms: Bohun, de (possibly)
Class: heraldic
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1300
Date to: Circa AD 1400
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 38.1 mm
Width: 24.6 mm
Thickness: 6.2 mm
Weight: 7.5 g
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Enamel
Decoration style: Heraldic
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Inlaid with enamel
Spatial metadata
Region: West Midlands (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Warwickshire (County)
District: Stratford-on-Avon (District)
Parish or ward: Quinton (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SP1846
Four figure Latitude: 52.11203518
Four figure longitude: -1.73856799
1:25K map: SP1846
1:10K map: SP14NE
Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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