MEDIEVAL HARNESS PENDANT

1150

An incomplete copper-alloy harness pendant suspension mount. This suspension mount has been created from one piece of copper-alloy sheet. Consisting of a circular disc with a now incomplete central folded projection in the centre of its lower edge. The flat disc of this pendant suspension mount measures c30mm in diameter, however including its folded projection (to which the missing pendant would have been attached) it is 34mm in diameter. Projecting from the centre of the lower edge of the pendant suspension mount there is a rectangle of folded sheet copper-alloy, with a longitudinal rectangular slot cut through it. The back face of this sheet is now missing, it would have originally have been folded back sharply and presumably soldered to the back face of the pendant suspension mount. Originally an iron horizontal bar would have run through the fold of this projection, from which the missing pendant would have hung, no trace of this bar now remains. There is a circular hole through the centre of this mount, probably a large rivet hole via which the suspension mount was attached to a leather harness strap. The front face of this harness suspension mount is decorated with a six pointed star, which radiates from the central hole. In the field surrounding the star there are many tiny circular indentaions, apparently arranged at randomn to fill all avaliable space. There is then a boarder groove. The whole front face is gilded, including the projecting lugs. This decorative design, of a star radiating from a central boss is also seen on pendants and pendant suspension mounts from Cambridgeshire and parallels are known on examples of shield decoration common on equestrian seals from the mid 12th century (Ashley 2002, 7). Steven Ashley (2002, 6-7, fig 6), suggests that the design is likely to have a symbolic meaning, as when depicted on horse furntiure in particular it bears some resemblance to the comet (minus tail) shown in the Bayeux Tapestry. This comet first appeared in 1066 for a week. He states that it was linked to the Norman conquest in contemporary imagination and suggests that it seems likely that it was retained in Anglo-Norman folk memory as a signifier of good fortune and was therefore a popular choice for the decoration of shields and harness. The style and decorative device on this harness pendant suspension mount therefore date it to the medieval period, and more specifically to the 12th and early 13th centuries.