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HARNESS MOUNT
Unique ID: KENT-8A4F66
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A worn complete copper-alloy Heraldic shield-shaped stud mount of Medieval date (AD1200-1400).
Description:
The object is shield shaped and flat with a heraldic device on the front of the object. The device is clear as a lion standing on its back feet (Lion Rampant). There is a raised ridge around the outside of the shield and this couple with white specs in the top right corner may suggest that the lion was on a white field. The reverse of the object has an integral, single projecting circular shank/rivet and is undecorated. The tip of the shank is damaged
The remaining enamel is red and the lions were likely picked out in another colour which is now missing. The rest of the mount is a patinated grey-green colour.
Measurements: 32.08mm high, 29.75mm wide, 18.52mm wide and 13.18g in weight.
Discussion:
Although this mount may be linked to a family/individual's coat of arm the Lion rampant is such a common motif that without certainty about intended colours of the device it is not possible to make and educated guess as to who it belonged to.
Shield shaped mounts are frequently identified as 'harness mounts' however Griffiths (1989. 1) points out a number of surviving examples which, while all of the same or closely related forms are associated with other objects. These objects include boxes, stirrups, sections of armour (as decorative mounts) and shields for statuettes.
Similar, albeit identified as 'harness mounts' or 'studs' examples can be found on the the PAS database @: LVPL-D97C1A, NARC-D972A2, SWYOR-792592
Class: heraldic
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1400
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 18.52 mm
Height: 32.08 mm
Width: 29.75 mm
Weight: 13.18 g
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Heraldic
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Kent (County)
District: Maidstone (District)
Parish or ward: Lenham (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TQ8951
Four figure Latitude: 51.22689288
Four figure longitude: 0.70545109
1:25K map: TQ8951
1:10K map: TQ85SE
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Griffiths, N. | 1989 | Shield-shaped mounts, FRG datasheet 12a | London | Finds Research Group 700-1700 |
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Timeline of associated dates
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