Post by Derek HowardPost by Derek HowardTrue. And more careful examination of the illustrations of French vervelles
shows some to have a hinged attachment at the top which looks to have been
riveted to something else - maybe dog collars, horse trappings or helmets -
while others do not have this so might have been for birds. Falcons are
fairly strong birds and some can be hefty to carry. I think they would have
had little problem with the tags. We know they can cope with bells. They
were probably multi-purpose tags but just seem a little on the small side
for horses.
A recent press announcement refers to one found in Scotland though there is
<http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/pendant-of-noble-killed-by-robert-bruce-found-in-field-1-2801000>
COUNTY CORK, IRELAND — Conservation of a piece of leather retrieved from a
well located at Caherduggan Castle has shown that it is an intact breast
strap from a horse’s harness. Called a peytrel, the fitting, which dates to
the thirteenth or fourteenth century, is covered in hinged, gilded mounts and
pendants decorated with heraldic symbols. There are buckles at either end.
“Post-excavation analysis has revealed it is the only intact example ever
found in Britain or Ireland and it may have belonged to a medieval knight or
one of his retainers or retinue. It certainly belonged to someone important
in the medieval period. This is a hugely significant find in Ireland,” said
archaeologist Damian Shields. Other finds from the well include bone gaming
dice and a woman’s shoe.
<http://www.archaeology.org/news/1074-130712-ireland-peytrel-leather-horse-harness/1074-130712-ireland-peytrel-leather-horse-harness>
Unique medieval harness found at Cork castle
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
A unique medieval harness find has been unearthed at excavations at a Cork castle.
By Donal Hickey
The 13th-14th century leather harness, which went around a horse’s chest and
was attached to the saddle, is covered in gilt, copper-alloy shields, and
boasts heraldic symbols.
It may have belonged to a medieval knight and is the only intact example ever
found in Britain or Ireland.
The treasure trove of artefacts includes scores of pieces uncovered around
the castle at Caherduggan, near Doneraile, Co Cork.
The finds were made by archaeological consultants commissioned by Cork County Council.
The excavations were completed in 2011 and 2012 as part of a project to
remove a bend on the main Mallow-Doneraile road.
Rubicon Heritage, Ireland’s largest archaeological consultancy based in
Midleton, described the site as a “most remarkable” castle.
Archaeologist Damian Shields yesterday said they had discovered a number of
extremely interesting finds, the most important of which came from a medieval
water well.
Among the items found were a bone dice for gaming, a medieval woman’s shoe,
and one of the most important finds they had ever uncovered — the complete
13th/14th century leather horse harness known as a peytrel.
“Post-excavation analysis has revealed it is the only intact example ever
found in Britain or Ireland and it may have belonged to a medieval knight or
one of his retainers or retinue. It was certainly belong to someone important
in the medieval period. This is a hugely significant find in Ireland.”
The heraldic shields also feature symbols of a rampant lion on its hind legs.
The archaeologists have contacted the chief herald’s office to try to
determine which herald it might be. The castle belonged at different periods
to the Barry, Roche and Grove families.
The excavations were carried out on an outer ditch of the castle and the
water well. Evidence of a fairly large, pre-historic settlement was also
found, including a marketplace at a cross roads and a fort.
The artefacts were sent to the National Museum.
Mr Shields said more excavation was needed at the castle. “I would love to go
back to have another look at this site,” he said.
© Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved
<http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/unique-medieval-harness-found-at-cork-castle-236386.html>
Following the above report on the finding of an heraldic horse harness, the BBC reports today the find of a "rare" 16th Century "royal" silver gilt vervel (I the nature of vervels discussed earlier in the thread). This one was found in a Norfolk field near Colney, on the outskirts of Norwich, by a metal detector enthusiast.
The 23mm (0.9in) ring, found in December, was worn by a bird of prey around its foot to identify its owner.
The vervel carries the royal arms on one face with the arms of Brandon on the other. Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, 1st Viscount Lisle KG (c.1484–1545) was the son of Sir William Brandon and Elizabeth Bruyn. Through his third wife, Mary Tudor, he was brother-in-law to Henry VIII. It could have been dropped on any of those Brandon's visits around 1520 to the 1540s.
The vervel is now at the British Museum for a report to be prepared for an inquest by the Norfolk coroner. The Norwich Castle Museum already has a larger collection of hawking vervels than the British Museum and will be looking to acquire the Brandon piece, which weighs 202g (7oz), if it is declared treasure.
This vervel at least is of a distinctly different structure to the horse harness items discussed above, even if, as we discussed earlier, vervels identified as such in France look pretty much the same as the horse brasses. Have there been instances in France of misidenitification?
Several of the Norwich collection of vervels appear in the records of teh Portable Antiquities Scheme. The heraldic ones appear to all have a shield attached directly to the leg ring. Examples are
and spectacularly the hawking vervel held at Norwich stated to be of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, see
<http://www.artfund.org/what-we-do/art-weve-helped-buy/artwork/12371/hawking-vervel-of-henry-frederick-prince-of-wales>
At the BM there are a number of similar heraldic vervels being shields attached to rings
<http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/search.aspx?searchText=vervel>
Most of the other vervels under the PAS are simple inscribed rings.
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