HARNESS MOUNT

An incomplete enamelled heraldic horse harness mount, of medieval dating (AD 1200 to AD 1400). 

The mount consists of a sub rectangular panel, with enamelled decoration. An integral attachment spike is present in the centre of the reverse. This spike is complete, with a square cross section, and it gradually tapers to a blunt point. The tip of the spike has been bent over at an angle of 90 degrees.

The front of the harness mount bears enamelled decoration, The enamelled decoration is incomplete. It comprises an red (gules) border, with blue diagonal lines inside. In heraldic terms this is "Bendy azure and argent/or, a bordure gules".

The mount measures 28.1 mm in length, 15.7 mm wide and 12.7 mm thick. It weighs 5.4 g.

The mount is a mid to dark green colour, with an even surface patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of some of the original surface detail and enamel.

Clive Cheeseman (Richmond Herald, College of Arms) comments: With blue and gold stripes, this would be the shield of the Duke of Burgundy down to 1361. The arms of Burgundy were known in England and it's possible that is their reference here. Alternatively, and perhaps more fittingly for where it was found, arms like this are recorded for the Montfort/Mountfort/Mountford family of Lapworth in Warwickshire, an illegitimate line descended from the Montforts of Wellesbourne in the same county. The same arms seem also to have been borne by the Merbrook family who inherited a portion of the manor of Lapworth from Roesia de Montfort (d.post 1420). See on this family Victoria County History of Warwickshire vol 5 (ed L F Salzman, 1949), pp 108-116,; on the arms, see Dictionary of British Arms vol. 2 pp. 194-5.

This harness mount (stud) is published in The Coat of Arms (2014, Third Series, Volume 10(2)/no.228, 122) fig.6a.