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LOT 1652
Medieval Iron Horse Bit Group
14TH-16TH CENTURY A.D.
8 1/4 -12 3/4 in. (2.85 kg total, 21-32.5 cm).
Comprising bits of various types and sizes, including articulate elements. [18, No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired 1990s-early 2000s.
East Anglian private collection.
Cf. similar specimen in PAS, PUBLIC-DEB4D3, in Leahy, K. and Lewis, M., Finds Identified II, London, 2020, p.295.
FootnotesThis kind of iron snaffle bits were commonly used in late Medieval or Renaissance period. The mouth piece was made in two linked sections, to which big rings were attached at the extremities. Reins and bridles were both fastened to the rings.
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AUCTIONS:
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Medieval Silver-Gilt Dress Hook
14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
Triangular bodied with decoratively notched edges, bulbs to each corner and forming central stylised floral motif, three openwork fixing circles to the side edges, integral hook with rectangular loop to lower edge. 2.9 grams, 24 mm
Acquired on the UK market, 1990s. Property of a retired academic. -
Medieval and Later Dutch Pottery Pit Dug Fragment Group
Circa 15th-17th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
Most glazed and from various vessel types, including examples with handles and coloured glaze. 10.6 kg total, 6.2-22.5 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection. -
Medieval Iron Knife with Bronze Pommel
Late 14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £187
Comprising a single cutting edge; scale tang with pommel formed as a bifacial crown with incised detailing; Netherlands. 31 grams, 18.3 cm
Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.
Knife handles can be classified according to their method of attachment into whittle and scale-tang handles. Whittle-tang handles were the most common type used in the early medieval period. Whittle tang handles (like here) were more common later and fixed by pushing the pointed end of the knife tang into the handle.
