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HARNESS PENDANT
Unique ID: PUBLIC-7DCC74
Object type certainty: Probably
Workflow
status: Published 
A circular copper-alloy possible harness pendant of the medieval period (c. 12th-13th century). The front depicts a left facing lion passant with a long tail within a beaded border with cusps: on clearer examples there are a total of seven tendrils that spring inwardly in an anti-clockwise direction. The design is encircled with an inscription reading: + IE SVI : CRISTVS : (AM)I (I am a friend of Christ). The pendant has a simple loop set at right angles, bent to one side as a result of old damage. There is evidence of tinning. The reverse is plain.
Diameter of pendant: 23.23 mm. Thickness: 1.84 mm. Weight; 5.378 g
See an example from Sporle with Palgrave, Norfolk, (HER 1058) illustrated in Ashley (2002, 8,;fig.8, no. 24) and also PUBLIC-7DCC74 and SUR-C5DD77 on this database. Ashley (2002, 8) suggests that such pendants date from the late 12th or early 13th century. Regarding similar pendants with inscriptions, though bearing eagles rather than lions, it has been argued that, though sharing characteristics with horse-harness pendants, may have been items of personal jewellery (Clark ed. 1995, 63).
Inscription:
IE SVI : CRISTVS : (AM)I
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1175
Date to: Circa AD 1250
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 1.84 mm
Weight: 5.378 g
Diameter: 23.23 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 7th September 2008
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: UKDFD 15157
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: White metal coated
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Dorset (County)
District: East Dorset (District)
To be known as: Nr Wimborne
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashley, S. | 2002 | Medieval Armorial Horse Furniture in Norfolk | Dereham | East Anglian Archaeology | 24 | ||
| Clark, J. | 1995 | The Medieval Horse and its Equipment c.1150 - c.1450 | London | HMSO | 63 |
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Timeline of associated dates
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