Harness Ornament
1300-1340 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This ornament is decorated with three gold lions against a red enamelled background, representing the Royal arms of England as used before 1340. It indicates the close association of the original owner with the English crown, and is unlikely to have been owned by a member of the royal family. It is said to have been found in a garden in West Horsley, Guildford in 1921.
Small enamelled shields like this were used as equestrian ornaments, to decorate the breast band of a horse or the fitting on the headstall. Such badges proclaimed the identity, allegiance and status of the horse's owner.Horses were of central importance to medieval society, essential for fighting wars, for transport and for leisure activities like hawking and hunting.
Evidence of early heraldic arms on such ornaments, such as the arms of Richard of Cornwall, (1209-1272) suggests that they were in use in the 13th century, and their popularity continued into the 15th century.
Small enamelled shields like this were used as equestrian ornaments, to decorate the breast band of a horse or the fitting on the headstall. Such badges proclaimed the identity, allegiance and status of the horse's owner.Horses were of central importance to medieval society, essential for fighting wars, for transport and for leisure activities like hawking and hunting.
Evidence of early heraldic arms on such ornaments, such as the arms of Richard of Cornwall, (1209-1272) suggests that they were in use in the 13th century, and their popularity continued into the 15th century.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Copper, champlevé enamel |
| Brief description | Badge, of champlevé enamel on copper, bearing the royal arms of England, England, ca. 1300-1340. |
| Physical description | Copper alloy badge in the shape of a shield. Champlevé enamel decoration depicting the royal arms of England as used before 1340. Pierced lug for suspension. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | According to the vendor, this object was dug up in a garden at West Horsley, Guildford in 1921. It was purchased by the museum for £2 the same year. Historical significance: This pendant shows the development of heraldry as ornament and the spread of heraldic symbols to smaller parts of the knight's equipment such as equestrian ornament. It bears the royal arms of England, and was possibly worn as a sign of loyalty to the crown or to show an affiliation with the king. |
| Historical context | Small enamelled shields like this example decorated the breast band of a horse or the fitting on the headstall. Evidence of early arms on such ornaments, such as the arms of Richard of Cornwall, suggests that they were in use in the 13th century. They continued to be popular until the 15th century. |
| Summary | This ornament is decorated with three gold lions against a red enamelled background, representing the Royal arms of England as used before 1340. It indicates the close association of the original owner with the English crown, and is unlikely to have been owned by a member of the royal family. It is said to have been found in a garden in West Horsley, Guildford in 1921. Small enamelled shields like this were used as equestrian ornaments, to decorate the breast band of a horse or the fitting on the headstall. Such badges proclaimed the identity, allegiance and status of the horse's owner.Horses were of central importance to medieval society, essential for fighting wars, for transport and for leisure activities like hawking and hunting. Evidence of early heraldic arms on such ornaments, such as the arms of Richard of Cornwall, (1209-1272) suggests that they were in use in the 13th century, and their popularity continued into the 15th century. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.315-1921 |
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| Record created | February 1, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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