BURNELL - MEDIEVAL English Horse Harness Pendant. 13th/14th Century.

Rare and intriguing English medieval horse harness pendant. 13th/14th Century.



ENGLISH MEDIEVAL HORSE HARNESS PENDANTS

FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION.

Mainly 13th and 14th Century.

Coats of arms on copper alloy, with gold, silver and enamel depending on the colours of the arms - they depicted the allegiance of the rider. However, a small proportion were used for decorative purposes only to show status.

Pendants are found in a variety of shapes, usually attached to the harness by means of a separate hinged mount, which might be a horizontal bar with a downward projecting suspension loop, or sometimes a cruciform design. They were often attached to the peytrel - a strap girdling the front of the horse and sometimes also on the horse's forehead, suspended from the upper bridle strap.

These pendants were at the peak of their use in the 13th and 14th century. The fashion faded away when arms became less simple and quartering was introduced.

Most families have been traced and many of them came over with William the Conqueror.





BURNELL

ARMS: A lion rampant debruised by

A riband Gu-

C13th - C14th

Found: Luton 2002

A Robert Burnell was bishop of Bath & Wells in C13th. His nephew, Edward Burnell served in Edward Ils Scottish wars (1311-14) and became Lord Burnell. He inherited the great Estates which the bishop had acquired.

Edwards widow was appointed Constable of Conway Castle from 1326 until her death in 1353.

A Lord Burnell was one of the Lords who received the abdication of Richard Il in the Tower of London in 1401.