HARNESS PENDANT

A Medieval gilded copper alloy horse harness pendant and associated mount, probably dating to c. AD 1200-1400. The pandant is lozengiform in plan, with an inverted trapezoidal knop projecting from each corner, and with a larger semi-circular lobe projecting from each edge. The latter are cast into zoomorphic depictions of an animal's head viewed from above. The centre of the lozenge is cast into a depiction of an en face crowned bust set within a recessed lozengiform field filled with red enamel ('gules'). A transverse attachement loop projects from the upper knop of the pendant, and is held within the box of the accosiated mount, with the separate copper alloy axis bar surviving in situ.

The mount consists of a broadly triangular-sectioned bar of copper alloy, terminating in a D-shaped lobe with a knop projecting from its apex. These are preceded by a small narrowed waist flanked by transverse collars. The right terminal is lost to an old break. A third, shorter arm projects from the centre of one edge, bifurcating and with its two perforated sub-rectangular lobes forming the box holding the pendant.

Extensive gilding remains on both the mount and pendant.

Dimensions of pendant: length 30.0mm; width 22.0mm; thickness 6.2mm.
Dimensions of mount: length 15.1mm; width 34.5mm; thickness 5.7mm.

Overall dimensions: c. 40mm; weight 11.50g.

A comparable harness pendant is illustrated by Ashley (2002: 17, no. 163), this is compared to a broadly similar example found at Rattray Castle, incorrectly stated to have been excavated in a 13th or early 14th century context. This latter example (Murray & Murray 1993: 193, no. 207) is decorated with a fleur-de-lis, and with less pronounced lobes than is seen here. It was found by a metal detectorist in fields to the south east of the castle (ibid: 192). A near identical mount has recently been recorded on this database, cf. WMID-09DCE9. Neither published example features zoomorphic terminals, although they are also seen on WMID-09DCE9. Enamelled horse harness pendants are typically dated to the 13th and 14th centuries (Griffiths 1986).