Description
Material: Copper/ bronze
Period: Late medieval
Date: 4th century
Origin: Probably Britain
Condition: Fine
Description: A circular bronze bridle boss with a domed centre and an iron backplate, the bronze piece being attached to the backplate by rivets that are still present, Each rivet is florally decorated and the reverse has an insert for the leather straps of the bridle.
Size and Weight: 45mm x 25mm, 27g
Features and Provenance: Found in river mud, therefore well preserved.
Horses have been wearing basic armour from as early as 2500BC but by eight century BC it was well developed. Barding, the name for full armour on a horse, was adopted by the 12th century AD to protect horses from arrows and when jousting. Chain mail and steel plates were later added, but as armaments became more advanced horse armour was less effective and more of an incumbrance and dropped by 17th century cavalrymen as it was useless against musket balls and cannons. Our example was probably from part of the bridle as a junction piece at the bit, cheek area or where the headband met the cheek-strap to protect major parts of the head and prevent dislocation of the bridle during battle..
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
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