Lot 35B
Western Europe, modern day France, early Medieval period, Frankish people, ca. 600 to 900 CE. It is not often that we see something from Charlemagne's people, the Franks, despite their major role in the post-Roman European order. Entirely composed of cast and gilded bronze, this is an attachment for a bridle or some other part of horse tack. Centered around an openwork wheel divided into three parts by arms in the form of fleur-de-lis, with a stud in the center, are three long arms, each attached by a folded bronze strap with a small bronze pin holding them in place. The arms are flattened and decorated with low relief floral motifs. Comes with custom stand. Size spread out as displayed: 5.5" W x 5.5" H (14 cm x 14 cm); height on stand: 6.45" (16.4 cm)
Throughout the medieval period, the various straps used to harness horses were decorated elaborately with bells, studs, bosses, pendants, and other metal objects; we know this from images in illuminated manuscripts. Imagine what all of these together must have looked and sounded like - Chaucer, writing in the 1380s, wrote: "His bridle, when he rode, a man might hear jingling in a whistling wind as clear,/Aye, and as loud as does the chapel bell, Where my lord Monk was Prior of the cell." All of these pendants served both to identify the owner with heraldic devices and to act as amulets against "the evil eye".
Provenance: private New Jersey USA collection, acquired over twenty years ago
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#121633
- Condition: Much of the gilding remains and the piece is intact, with all three original pins; small areas of copper patina, especially around the pins, which were never gilded (thus allowing more oxidation).
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|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |