Horse brass

Horse brass

A Horse brass is a brass plaque used for the decoration of harness gear, especially for shire and parade horses.Used since antiquity, they became especially popular in England in the 1800s, and remain a collectors item today.

History

Certain types of horse brass have been in existence since before the 12th century in England. They were introduced as decorations but soon became used as good luck and status symbols. These medieval decorations (mentioned by Chaucer) however, have nothing whatsoever to do with the mid-19th century fashion for decorating the heavy, working horse, the brasses for which developed after about 1850 onwards during the great flowering of the decorative arts following the influence of the Great Exhibition. There are a great deal of unfounded myths surrounding these decorations such as their usage as Amulets to ward off the "Evil Eye". The most popular size is 3 x 3 1/2 inches of flat brass with a hanger by which the brass threaded onto a horse harness strap, known as a Martingale In England many of these items of harness found their way into country public houses as the era of the heavy horse declined, and are still associated today as a pub decoration. By the late 19th century Wagons and carts were decorated with brasses of all kinds and sizes. During this era working horse parades were popular throughout the British Isles and Prize or Merit awards were given, some by the Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). Horse brasses were often highly prized by the "carters", who decorated their horse with them. Other horse brass subjects include advertising,royalty commemoration, and in later years, souvenir brasses for places and events many of which, are still being made and used today.

National Horse Brass Society

The National Horse Brass Society of England has members all over the world and provides publications for members and swap meets.

Anyone wishing for more information or membership can visit our site at www.nationalhorsebrasssociety.org.uk -- () 13:10, 28 September 2008 (UTC)R.J. Bradshaw (webmaster)

External links

* [http://www.nationalhorsebrasssociety.org.uk
* [http://www.horsebrassera.co.uk/history.htm A history of horse brasses]
* [http://antiquehorse.com/newbookspage2.html Books on horse brass]


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  • horse brass — a brass ornament, originally intended for the harness of a horse. * * * ▪ decoration       decorative metal plaque fitted to the martingale, a set of straps attached to saddle and bridle that serve to steady a horse s head or check its upward… …   Universalium

  • horse brass — noun : a brass ornament fastened to a martingale * * * a brass ornament, originally intended for the harness of a horse. * * * horse brass noun A usu brass ornament of a kind hung on the harness of a horse • • • Main Entry: ↑horse …   Useful english dictionary

  • horse brass — /ˈhɔs bras/ (say haws brahs) noun a brass ornament, originally as worn on a horse s harness …  

  • Horse harness — Horse in harness with horse collar A closeup of a …   Wikipedia

  • brass — ► NOUN 1) a yellow alloy of copper and zinc. 2) (also horse brass) a flat brass ornament for the harness of a draught horse. 3) Brit. a memorial consisting of a flat piece of inscribed brass in the wall or floor of a church. 4) brass wind… …   English terms dictionary

  • Brass (disambiguation) — Brass is a metal alloy of copper and zinc.Brass may also refer to: * Brass (TV series), a 1980s British television series starring Timothy West * Brass, a city in Bayelsa State, Nigeria * Brass instrument, a musical instrument where the sound is… …   Wikipedia

  • brass — n. & adj. n. 1 a yellow alloy of copper and zinc. 2 a an ornament or other decorated piece of brass. b brass objects collectively. 3 Mus. brass wind instruments (including trumpet, horn, trombone) forming a band or a section of an orchestra. 4… …   Useful english dictionary

  • horse — n. & v. n. 1 a a solid hoofed plant eating quadruped, Equus caballus, with flowing mane and tail, used for riding and to carry and pull loads. b an adult male horse; a stallion or gelding. c any other four legged mammal of the genus Equus,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • brass — noun 1》 a yellow alloy of copper and zinc.     ↘(also horse brass) Brit. a flat brass ornament for the harness of a draught horse.     ↘a memorial consisting of a flat piece of inscribed brass set into the wall or floor of a church.     ↘a brass… …   English new terms dictionary

  • horse brasses —    Brass plaques as ornaments for the harness of cart horses were first made in the late 18th century; they became very popular in the 1850s, replacing an older style of adornment with ribbons, woollen fringes, and tooled leather. In some areas… …   A Dictionary of English folklore

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