Part of a Harness
Unknown Artist
16th century
Medium
Leather, metal
Dimensions
H. 15 1/2 in. (39.3 cm)
Classification
Miscellaneous-Leatherwork
Culture
British
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Funds from various donors, 1929
Accession Number
29.158.460a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite fragment of a 16th-century British harness, crafted from leather reinforced with metal, offers a glimpse into the Tudor era's masterful leatherworking traditions. Measuring 15½ inches in height, it belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Armor department, highlighting its role in equestrian gear—likely a strap or fitting from a horse's harness used in warfare, tournaments, or ceremonial processions. Acquired through the Bashford Dean Memorial in 1929, it reflects the era's blend of functionality and fine craftsmanship. In 16th-century England, under monarchs like H...