The Prince and the Plunder

A book on how Britain took one boy and piles of treasures from Ethiopia

Category: Horse tack

Bridle with silver discs *

Published / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A bridle, given by Secretary of State for India, Sir Stafford Henry Northcote

Where: The British Museum, Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG

The catalogue entry reads:

“Bridle, comprised of reins, curb bit and headgear made of leather and iron. The reins are made of plaited leather decorated at the top with an elaborate leather coil. They are attached to the curb bit by a series of knots. The bit, made of iron, has two parts, a “u” shaped bar which rests on the animals tongue and a moveable ring which goes around the animals lower jaw. The leather headgear is attached to the bit by a series of leather loops and knots. The headgear consists of two cheek bands and a nose band; each decorated with two silver discs with elaborate conical bosses and punched design around the edge and one rectangular silver ornament with daisy motif and a punched design. The cheek bands are further decorated where they attach to the bit with leather embroidery.”

Details:
Museum number: Af1868,1230.13
Date: 19thC(mid)
Acquisition name: Sir Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh
Acquisition date: 1868

Martingale with silver gilt discs *

Published / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: Martingale given by Secretary of State for India, Sir Stafford Henry Northcote

Where: The British Museum, Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG

The catalogue entry reads:

“Martingale made of leather with silver-gilt ornaments. Made of pale coloured leather, it is decorated with linear designs in dark brown leather stitching. The lower strap which passes through the horses legs, is looped at both ends. It is attached at the top to two throat straps by a leather ring which passes through the ends of all three leather straps. The two throat straps lay across the horse’s throat, passing over the shoulders of the front legs and are secured with a buckle to a plain leather strap which passes over the back of the neck. The martingale is decorated with five large cast, convex discs made of silver gilt.. Each is decorated with a floral pattern of a six petal flower interspersed with further floral motifs resembling lotus flowers. The discs are further ornamented with six fluted studs around the edge and another centrally placed. These are secured by a pin through the disc and are soldered at the back, one is missing.”

Curator’s comments: “Mules and horses were invaluable mounts and pack animals in Highland Ethiopia and consequently were considered a man’s most prized possession. Tack for horses and mules was often richly decorated with silver and silver gilt ornaments which acted as symbols of status and wealth, as well as having amuletic properties. Elaborate harnesses and bridles were often given by the Emperor as rewards for loyalty and bravery. The use of silver-gilt on this martigale would suggest that it was a gift from the Emperor, as the use of gold was restricted to the imperial family.”

Detail
Museum number: Af1868,1230.14
Date: 19thC (mid)
Acquisition name: Sir Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh
Acquisition date: 1868

Bridle, saddle & stirrups *

Published / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: Abyssinian bridle with bit, and saddle with stirrups

Where|:

Where: The Royal Engineers Museum, Prince Arthur Rd, Gillingham ME7 1UR

The catalogue entry reads: “Abyssinian bridle with bit, and saddle with stirrups, mementos of Lord Napier’s campaign there. The saddle is made of wood, covered in skin. The seat has a triangular post at the front, topped with a hemi-spherical hand support. The back is formed with a reclining back plate and the kin has been decorated with a repeated circular pattern. There are oven strips of leather, both in the back plates and the pommel. On either side are leather straps and buckles which fit around the horse’s body. The hole is made of contrasting light and dark leather.”

Details
Object number: 1203.1.5
Length: 440 mm
Width: 380 mm
Height: 390 mm

A pair of spurs *

Published / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A pair of spurs “owned by Sir Charles Fraser and acquired by him in Abyssinia during the Abyssinian campaign, 1868”

Where: The National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4HT

The catalogue entry describes a “pair of spurs, 1868 (c); wrought iron ten pointed rowel mounted in a double bracket which attaches to a heel grip; the outside of the grips and the rowel mount are decorated with small swags and dots; owned by Sir Charles Fraser and acquired by him in Abyssinia during the Abyssinian campaign, 1868.

Museum accession number
Horse Furniture 1965-04-45-