51/289

Horse brasses were fastened to various parts of the horse’s harness, and a horse could wear up to three hundred at a time. This is a cast commemorative should brass of Edward VII mounted on an older strap. The strap is heavily studded with twenty-five brasses of various shapes, including hearts, stars and diamonds. The shoulder brass hangs behind the collar and in front of the saddle on either shoulder. This brass was acquired by the donor in Somerset.

1 shoulder brass; leather and metal [good condition, though incomplete

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – [51/280] – ‘Horse brasses almost certainly began as amulets to ward off evil and to bring good luck, but they continued as festive decoration long after their origin had been forgotten. In England the earliest horse ornaments made of brass date from the reign of Elizabeth when they were made entirely by hand from sheet metal. The heyday of horse brasses was between the years 1851 and 1900 when they were cast. Horse brasses are fastened to various parts of the harness, to face pieces, to martingales and to side pieces. A horse may wear as many as three hundred brasses, though when they are more numerous the smallest are little more than studs. Many horse brasses are symbolic.’, MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘This is a commemorative brass of Edward VII and was cast. It is mounted on a strap measuring 14 inches in length, which is obviously older than the brass. The strap has a slot at one end so that it could be attached to the rest of the harness and is heavily studded with 25 brasses of various shapes, including hearts, stars and diamonds. The shoulder brass hangs behind the collar and in front of the saddle on either shoulder.’, MERL ‘Associated information’ form – ‘Name of Object: Horse brass // Age…: various - probably 19th Cen. // Name and address of present owner: [...] Rusthall Tunbridge Wells // Description of use to which it was put…: 8 unmounted brasses - 4 on leathers - 1 swinging head piece with foot plate added for convenience of standing. I believe the head of King Edward VII is the latest of the brasses - studded leather to which it is attached considerably older. Bought in Somerset 15 to 30 years ago mainly at Minehead.'

1900-01-01 - 1999-12-31

Twentieth century

Metal, brass, Leather