Hidden away, in a dark corner, at a recent estate sale was a shoe box full of brass items. Marked on the end of the box: “Horse Brass”
These shinny items intrigued me. It was ‘bundle day’ at the sale I decided to take a chance on them and added them to our pile of purchases.
Once I had them home I started learning what I could to prepare for listing.
Here’s a bit of what I learned:
The exact origin or dates Horse Brass appeared are uncertain. Perhaps it was the Celts in Europe who started the tradition. The Celts attached good luck amulets to their horses harness. One thing for sure is they have been around for a very long time. Medieval Brasses have been found.
Brasses were/are traditionally worn by horses for decorative purposes, or to proclaim national or patriotic sentiment. Hence the large number of national emblem and commemorative patterns.
Today they are found as attractive, unusual and interesting wall ornaments. Many “Pubs” (or, in America “Bars”
) adorn the walls of their establishments with them. Of course many stables have them displayed on harnesses – showcasing favorite horses or events.
To date there are at least 2000 different patterns which generally fall into the following categories:
- National Emblems
- Commemorative
- Agricultural (mainly horses)
- Trade
- Heraldic
- Decorative
- Talisman (good luck symbols)
- Tourist Patterns
Brasses are still struck today to commemorate special occasions, to honor famous personalities, promote businesses, organizations and other establishments.
Of course there is much more to say and learn about these brasses. There’s more information about the brasses on Wikipedia – the types and ages – and more.
Another great resource on Horse Brass is The National Horse Brass Society – they have pages and pages of great information on antique and collectible Horse Brass.
If you are looking to add a few to your collection – we now have over 60 different styles of Horse Brass for sale in our eBay Store.