2011/8/1

This is a circular horse brass with fluted edges and an upper pendant loop. It has a cut out middle with a moulded bust of King Edward VII in the centre, and the words ‘God Save the King // Edward VII’ around the edge. It is mounted on a leather pendant with a buckle at the top. The brass was part of the collection of Malcolm Norris which he started in 1969, and by the time of his death in 2010 consisted of approximately 700 horse brasses, 65 smocks, antique farming tools, and various other artefacts.

1 horse brass: 'GOD SAVE THE KING EDWARD VII', Depiction in brass of the King, with leather backing and strap

MERL ‘Object Accession Form’ – 'Short description (free text): Horse brass with moulded bust of Edward VII at centre, mounted on leather and with buckle strap, text on which reads: 'GOD SAVE THE KING // EDWARD VII'. // ... // Physical description (free text): One horse brass, circular in shape with an undulating edge. Cut-out and moulded bust of Edward VII at centre. Mounted on leather by way of upper pendant loop. Leather strap with rough stitching and buckle of brass and iron. Text stamped round the horse brass reads: 'GOD SAVE THE KING // EDWARD VII'. // … // Associated information (free text): This artefact was purchased with the help of funds provided through the Heritage Lottery Fund project entitled 'Collecting Twentieth Century Rural Cultures'.It once formed part of the collection of the late Mr Malcolm Norris (1935–2010). Mr Norris is said to have started his collection in 1969 with a chance find of a horse brass depicting a wheatsheaf. Having felt he had amalgamated enough artefacts to hold an exhibition, he mounted his first display at the Cranleigh Agricultural Show in Knowle Park in 1976, with only a small amount of the collection going on show. Following this success he periodically exhibited his complete collection at a number of shows and events throughout the country. He held his last show in 1996 in Sevenoaks, Kent before deciding to ‘mothball’ his collection. Following his death in 2010, his family decided to disperse the collection, which was sold at public auction in Reading on 14 September 2011. This was one of five items that formed Lot 569 in an auction of some 1362 Lots. The Lot was described as comprising 'Four royalty brasses and one commemorative Festival of Britain, 1951.' // References: Thimbleby and Shorland, 'Dispersal Sale of a Private Collection' (Thimbleby and Shorland Catalogue, 2011) - annotated copy in accession file.', 'Dispersal Sale of a Private Collection' (Thimbleby and Shorland Catalogue, 2011) – ‘Mr Malcolm Norris – (1953–2010) // Mr Norris started the collection you see before you in 1969 with a chance find of a horse brass that depicted a wheatsheaf, followed by two smocks in 1979. Having felt that he had amalgamated enough artefacts to hold an exhibition, his first showing was at the Cranleigh Agricultural Show in Knowle Park in 1976, with only a small amount of the collection being exhibited. Following the success of this show, Malcolm would periodically exhibit his complete collection at a number of shows and events throughout the country. // The remarkable point about this is that Malcolm learnt to drive in the RAF but never acquired a licence, so he was very reliant on public transport and the good will of family and friends to ferry him to auction houses, antique shops and stalls to build his collection. His purchases were entirely self-funded from his average wage; nothing given or donated. // Malcolm was fiercely proud of his collection, noting that when Maidstone had their Charter Celebrations in 1950 they had one farmer’s smock on display even though the last farmer in England to wear a smock lived in the Tenderden area in the fifties. Malcolm’s collection of smocks range from plain to ornate, from working to Sunday best, and consisting of ones from Kent, Sussex, Dorset, Lincolnshire, Buckinghamshire and Essex. // He also felt the need to point out proudly, when writing to ask about a show venue, that he had been to the York Museum, Taunton Museum, Hull Museum, Reading Museum of Rural Life, plus many more but had yet to see a better collection than the one he owned. // He held his last show in 1996 in Sevenoaks, Kent before he decided to ‘mothball’ his collection. // Following his death in 2010, his family have now decided the time has come to sell all of Malcolm Norris’s vast and interesting collection of rural artefacts.’

1901 - 1910

Metal, brass, Leather