Medallion thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 57

Medallion

1514-1550 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
Heraldry became a common feature of 16th-century glazing programmes. The nobility used spectacular coats of arms to advertise their family and social alliances. Those elected as knights of the prestigious Order of the Garter commemorated the honour by depicting their arms surrounded by the garter device and motto. The Order had been founded in 1348 by Edward III and was the highest order of English knighthood.

Place
This shield with the garter device was salvaged from Barham Hall in Suffolk, the home of the Southwell family in the 16th century. When the hall was demolished around 1840, this and three other panels were leaded into a window in a new property built on the site.

People
The shield depicts the arms of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (1473-1554) in the top right quarter, alongside those of England, Warren and Fitzalan. Howard was a powerful English nobleman who, like his father, served Henry VIII as a military commander. This is reflected in the family's coat of arms which feature a small shield bearing a lion within a border similar to the arms of Scotland - a device awarded to the 2rd Duke in recognition of his victory over the Scots at the battle of Flodden in 1513. It is not known why the arms of the Norfolk family should be found in a house belonging to the Southwells.

Alteration
Stained-glass panels are vulnerable to damage and often require 'releading', in which the panes are reassembled in new leadwork. This process sometimes gives rise to mistakes. In this instance the Howard arms have been displaced from their correct position in the top left corner.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Clear, flashed, stained and coloured glass, painted with enamels
Brief description
Coat of arms in stained glass.
Physical description
Medallion from Barham Hall, Suffolk. Arms of the Dukes of Norfolk as borne after 1514.
Includes C.400-1915 (Crown)
Dimensions
  • Sight, including c.400 1915 height: 51.5cm
  • Sight width: 30.2cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 23/05/2000 by KB The stained glass coat of arms and crown is actually two objects joined together: C.798-1920 and C.400-1915. Treat as one object for design and display purposes. Dimensions refer to both objects joined together. Frame width is 4cm.framed dims provided by DA August 2001
Gallery label
British Galleries: This coat of arms belonged to Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (1473-1554). The small gold shield in the top right quarter shows the arms of Scotland. Henry VIII allowed Thomas's father to display this on his arm as a reward for leading the English victory over the Scots at Flodden (1513). The royal crown probably replaces the original ducal coronet.(27/03/2003)
Object history
From Barham Hall, Suffolk Made in England
Barham Hall was home to the Southwell family in the 16th century. The property was demolished in 1840. The Southwells also owned the manor of Woodrising in Norfolk and first appear at Barham Hall in 1451, at which date a John Southwell was living there. The family tree details the marriage between Sir Robert Southwell and Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Howard, Earl of Effingham, Lord High Admiral of England. This marriage, most likely having taken place in the late 16th century, might explain the appearance of the arms of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (d.1554) at Barham. The representation of the Howard’s family lineage by the Southwells would fit with other cases of the commemoration of female lineage at Gilling Castle, Yorkshire and Fawsley Hall, Northamptonshire.
Summary
Object Type
Heraldry became a common feature of 16th-century glazing programmes. The nobility used spectacular coats of arms to advertise their family and social alliances. Those elected as knights of the prestigious Order of the Garter commemorated the honour by depicting their arms surrounded by the garter device and motto. The Order had been founded in 1348 by Edward III and was the highest order of English knighthood.

Place
This shield with the garter device was salvaged from Barham Hall in Suffolk, the home of the Southwell family in the 16th century. When the hall was demolished around 1840, this and three other panels were leaded into a window in a new property built on the site.

People
The shield depicts the arms of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (1473-1554) in the top right quarter, alongside those of England, Warren and Fitzalan. Howard was a powerful English nobleman who, like his father, served Henry VIII as a military commander. This is reflected in the family's coat of arms which feature a small shield bearing a lion within a border similar to the arms of Scotland - a device awarded to the 2rd Duke in recognition of his victory over the Scots at the battle of Flodden in 1513. It is not known why the arms of the Norfolk family should be found in a house belonging to the Southwells.

Alteration
Stained-glass panels are vulnerable to damage and often require 'releading', in which the panes are reassembled in new leadwork. This process sometimes gives rise to mistakes. In this instance the Howard arms have been displaced from their correct position in the top left corner.
Bibliographic reference
Blomefield, F., An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 10, London, 1809, pp. 273-281
Collection
Accession number
C.798-1920

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Record createdJune 8, 1998
Record URL
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