How can you tell if horse brass is antique?

What is horse brass made of?

Nickel was used to create horse brass on the coasts and in Scotland to withstand the salt air. Horse brass cast of silver or gold inlaid with semi-precious stones were commissioned by the wealthy. Get thee gone, woes of “the evil eye” and come hither good fortune.

How can you tell if something is made of brass?

Sometimes, antique items are made of solid brass, but it’s also common to find pieces that are plated or wrapped in a thinner layer of brass. You can tell the difference with the help of a magnet. If you hold a magnet against the item and feel a pull, you know the piece is brass plated.

Do horses still wear brass medallions?

The use of horse brass peaked before World War I and waned with the rise of mechanization that replaced the use of the horse. Modern horses still don the brasses for show, but the medallions are more popular as decorative items. The ancient brasses are highly prized.

Is there a connection between horse brasses and harnesses?

In medieval England, decorative horse brasses were in use before the 12th century, serving as talismans and status symbols, but extensive, original research by members of the National Horse Brass Society has shown that there is no connection whatsoever between these bronze amulets to the working-class harness decorations used in…

Is brass still made in the UK?

The production of both cast and stamped brasses has continued since the demise of the British working horse but their manufacture is mainly centred on the souvenir trade, and other specialist manufacturers who provide for the heavy horse world who still breed and show the various breeds.

What is a horse brass?

Display of English brasses. A horse brass is a brass plaque used for the decoration of horse harness gear, especially for shire and parade horses.

How many pieces of horn are in a brass horse?

3 horn and brass horses. Made from small pieces of horn. 200 for the large horse. 175 for the medium horse. 125 for the small horse Stunning large Gio Ponti inspired Modernist Etruscan brass horse sculpture. Our Mid-Century Modern brass horse figure or sculpture stands in a sleek graceful almost cubist style. Di…

What is a horse brass plaque?

Display of English brasses. A horse brass is a brass plaque used for the decoration of horse harness gear, especially for shire and parade horses. They became especially popular in England from the mid-19th century until their general decline alongside the use of the draft horse, and remain a collectors item today.

How to identify old rocking horses?

To identify old rocking horses is not always easy, particularly early horses on bow rockers, often made by skilled but unknown craftsmen. A number of specialist rocking horse makers emerged in the 19th century who started by making horses on bows, then from 1880, on safety stands to the Marqua patent, continuing long after the patent expired.

Why do horses have brass medallions?

Get thee gone, woes of “the evil eye” and come hither good fortune. Horse brass medallions were believed to protect the horses. Vital for work, transportation and war, horses were possessions of value. Early motifs were inspired by ancient beliefs and superstitions that would ensure the health and safety of the equine asset.

When did people start collecting horse brasses?

Collecting horse brasses for their own sake other than as decorations for harness seems to have commenced around 1880, when women bought the newly issued, pierced-design, die-struck brasses which were used for pin-cushions.

What size brass do I need for a horse harness?

The most popular size is 3 × 3½ inches of flat brass with a hanger by which the brass is threaded onto a horse harness strap, known as a Martingale.

What is the history of horse harnesses?

History. In ancient Rome, horse harnesses were sometimes embellished with horse brasses known as phalerae, normally in bronze, cut or cast in the shape of a boss, disk, or crescent, most often used in pairs on a harness. In medieval England, decorative horse brasses were in use before the 12th century, serving as talismans and status symbols,…

What is a horse brass ornament?

Horse brasses were developed in the 17th century to decorate and identify draft horses and are very collectible. In England you see them decorating the beams in pubs or hung by the fireplace in homes. They are even being used today as Christmas tree ornaments in equestrian minded homes…

Why buy genuine horse brass?

Genuine horse brasses form part of our social history. They were worn on a daily basis by working horses owned by breweries, corporations, railways, privately owned businesses, trades etc. Antique horse brasses possess the quality, age, character and harness wear that later souvenir brasses lack.

How much does a brass horse cost?

Many brass horses are appealing in their simplicity, but Walter Bosse, Hertha Baller and Creart produced popular brass horses that are worth a look. How Much are Brass Horses? Prices for brass horses start at $195 and top out at $7,927 with the average selling for $875.

Are the walls of a horse’s hooves digestible?

Horse hoof walls are made of special skin or epithelial cells that are keratinized. Keratin is a main component of hair, horns, and antlers, as well as hooves in cows, horses, etc. Theoretically, keratinized structures are digestible, though many a cat owner who has cleaned up hairballs would argue that!

What kind of horn do you put on a cutting horse?

Three | Horn type: Cutting or cow horse. Details: This is a horn you can hold onto for safety in highly athletic events, like cutting and working cow horse. The taller horn sits on swells that are between the forward-positioned No. 1 and the upright dally horn.

Are there any rocking horses with carved heads?

Rocking Horse Restoration of a very fine Lines Extra Carved Horse on Bows, now fully restored and ready for another 100 years of hard riding. Over the past 30 years we have had for restoration a few very special rocking horses with unusual, strikingly carved heads, usually with stands and brackets to the Ayres pattern, or remnants of such stands.

What do you think of the later Lines Brothers rocking horses?

The later Lines Brothers rocking horses perhaps don’t have the finesse of the earlier G J Lines models, but are lovely in their own right with their pony like stature & friendly expression & were a popular toy in the children’s nursery. Please click on the below thumbnails to enlarge.

How to identify a rocking horse?

There are many methods in which experts use to identify a rocking horse. When you know where to look, you can not only find the maker of the horse, but even the decade it was made. The most common horses we see in the workshop are Ayres, Collinson, Lines and Baby Carriage.

What happens to old rocking horses?

Old rocking horses have invariably lost their saddles and bridles, gesso has perished, and paint and varnish have failed. Joints have given up under the strain, and extremities such as ears, jaws and glass eyes have gone missing.

What is the history of Brass collecting?

From 1890 onward, collecting the various types of brass, i.e. face-pieces, swingers, and hame-plates, etc., became a highly popular pastime amongst the upper and middle classes.

When did they start trimming horses with brass?

Trimming horses with horse brass dates back to the pre-Roman period (fourth to the first century BC). The early brasses were mostly bronze. The manufacture of brass alloy in England appeared during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1559-1603).

What are the parts of a horse harness?

It acts as the central harness anchor, having a checkrein hook at the front, a backstrap Dee at the rear, and includes rein terrets. Billets at the ends of each side panel are buckled into a girth to hold the saddle in place on the horse’s back.

How to take care of a horse harness?

At close of the day’s work, washing the shoulders with a cold water strong salt solution will help keep them in healthy condition. It is well to wipe the leather collar face clean with a damp cloth, and then wipe lightly with another cloth soaked in harness oil, as soon as collar is taken off.

What is a horse harness called?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Horse harness is a device that connects a horse to a vehicle or another type of load. There are two main categories of horse harness: (1) the “breaststrap” or “breastcollar” design, and (2) the collar and hames design.