Medieval Heraldic Horse Harness Mount, Humphrey de Bohun, 11th Century

Description

Heading : Medieval. Heraldic Horse Harness Mount. Humphrey de Bohun. 11th Century 

Material: Copper alloy

Period: Early medieval

Date: 11th Century

Origin: Britain

Condition: AVF. some patination remains. a lot of original detail to the arms is visible. the mount may have originally been enamelled or even gilt.   

Description: A copper alloy mount for horses harness with attachment hole to centre. Shield-shaped. it shows the arms of the de Bohun family; in heraldic terms: ‘Azure. a bend argent cotised or between six lions rampant of the last.’ The mount. or pendant as they are sometime referred to. were placed on the peytrel across the chest. the browband across the head or the cupper across the flanks.   

Size and Weight: 31 x 27mm. 6.82g

Features and Provenance: Members of the de Bohun family were Anglo-Norman nobleman that resided in Pleshey Castle in Essex. They were made Earls of Hereford and the 2nd Earl. Humphrey de Bohun was also made the 1st Earl of Essex and served as Sheriff of Kent for 1239-40. The 3rd Earl of Hereford Humphrey (VI) was probably the most famous of the family for conquering the Welsh Marcher lands and for his opposition to King Edward I over the ‘Confiratio Cartarus’. an extension to the Magna Carta. enforcing taxation of noblemen in England. His dissent nearly brought about civil war. but priorities changed when unrest occurred in the northern borders.  

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of the artefact and there are grades between

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of pattern etc present. visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of pattern etc present. but may be worn

Fine (F). Wear on the artefact and parts of item and pattern etc may be missing or not visible