HARNESS PENDANT

An incomplete copper-alloy, gilded harness pendant of the Medieval period, dating from c. AD 1200- c. AD 1400.

The integral suspension loop is broken, presumed in antiquity. It has the remains of a circular perforation and is at a right angle to the pendant.

The central feature of this mount is a lozenge-shaped cell. A possible debased fleur-de-lis moulding project outwards from the central cell on each of its four sides. The central cell is defined by a raised border and contains a quatrefoil setting decorated with raised lines echoing the shape of the quatrefoil. The area between the setting and the border of the cell is occupied by small circular depressions in diagonal lines echoing the shape of the central cell. The reverse is plain and undecorated.

The pendant measures 23.4 mm in length (including the suspension loop) and 20.4 mm when not, it is 14.8 mm wide. It has a thickness of 2.6 mm and weighs 3.6 g.

The pendant is a mid to dark brown in colour, with an even patina. Large areas of the gold coloured gilding survive on the front surface of the pendant. Abrasion caused by movement whilst within the plough soil may have resulted in the loss of some of the original surface detail. A similar harness pendant has been published (Ashley 2002: 25, ref: 246). Harness pendants and hangers in similar shape and style have also been recorded on The Portable Antiquities Scheme database. See finds: BERK-D743B1; BH-4BC287; BH-4BC755; DOR-6859B0; LIN-6D5496; NMGW-A82BE3; NMS-0121D4; NMS-606591; NMS-6F9874; WMID4951, YORYM-47CEF6 and IOW-4EE8A2.

Ref:

Ashley. S. 2002. Medieval Armorical Horse Furniture in Norfolk. East Anglian Archaeology 101. Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service. Gressenhall.