POST MEDIEVAL HARNESS MOUNT

1550

A post-medieval cast copper-alloy bridle boss (c. 1550-c. 1700 AD). The boss is roughly circular in plan, raised at the front and concave at the rear in the shape of a shield. The shield has traces of faint decoration which could be described as paly of seven, vair and ?argent. In heraldry the paly would be of either six or eight, not seven as is seen here- it is likely that the person engraving the boss was just alternating the pattern to fit into the shield. The only arms found by the author to broadly fit this design is Robert de Bazoches (blazon paly of six vair and gules on a chief or a fleur de lisissuant sable) but these date to the 13th century and the boss itself is much later. Further research may reveal the holder of the arms. Around the shield the boss has a flat border that appears to be decorated with a zig-zag design that has all but worn away. One large rivet hole through the apex of the border was probably replicated at the base however this area is now broken.