Colonial saddle Shield I think? flat buttons

[DigIron2]

Just a few things I found this weekend. Wanted to post last night but my camera batteries died. Saturday was almost a miss. All I found was the old pair of pliers, one flat button, and a key plate. Did manage to sneak up on a few turkeys , If I would have been packing a 12 gauge instead of a machine I would probably been bringing one home , They made me out and are on the move ....... Had a little better day Sunday. I went to a early site that I have been hunting for a few years now for the first time since I got this new machine. Pulled some buttons a small early buckle, pewter barrel tap piece and what looks like a saddle shield? The shield was way on down there under one of those darn roots that tend to grow wide and deep down. Took me a good while to get to it, kind of lucky I didn't ding it. I know it is colonial because it has the typical construction of the period with the hooks on the back that crimped into the leather, but don't really know if it went to a saddle or not? Would appreciate any info.

 

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[trapperart]

Nice finds congrats

 

[Old Dude]

Nice to see you're still making great discoveries DI2.

 

[relic nut]

Great hunt Bud! I have no info on the shield but it sure is cool. Great find.[emoji106]

HH, Relic Nut

 

[johnnyblaze]

Those saddle shields are extremely controversial in their ID..Nodody has produced a pic of one on a saddle and topics with dozens and dozens of replies have happened..
I have some and they usually only show up on early sites..That being said i also have a theory of them on the back of A "Frock" jacket to tie the long ends back..


~Blaze

 

[leddel]

I know it is colonial because it has the typical construction of the period with the hooks on the back that crimped into the leather, but don't really know if it went to a saddle or not? Would appreciate any info

These are early type (pre 1850's harness decorations ) , these were usually on a martingale or a "hameplate" . Earlier ones had solid iron studs to fasten on the thick leather , later thinner wire type fasteners were common .

here is a link to a bit of info (you might have to scroll down a bit to find it) Mandicrafts News & Views - Teddy Bears & Collectibles: Collecting - Horse Brass Harness Decorations

and also some examples of some hameplates HAMEPLATES - ******** THE COLLECTORS HORSE BRASSES

 

[CRUSADER]

Agreed, I would have just placed them in the Horse Harness decoration bracket.

 

[DigIron2]

Those saddle shields are extremely controversial in their ID..Nodody has produced a pic of one on a saddle and topics with dozens and dozens of replies have happened..
I have some and they usually only show up on early sites..That being said i also have a theory of them on the back of A "Frock" jacket to tie the long ends back..


~Blaze

that is the first one I have came across . Thank you for posting that illustration. For the longest time I couldn't figure out what these where. these too came from the same site as the shield. View attachment 1301966 View attachment 1301967 I guess that is what they are now?

 

[DigIron2]

These are early type (pre 1850's harness decorations ) , these were usually on a martingale or a "hameplate" . Earlier ones had solid iron studs to fasten on the thick leather , later thinner wire type fasteners were common .

here is a link to a bit of info (you might have to scroll down a bit to find it) Mandicrafts News & Views - Teddy Bears & Collectibles: Collecting - Horse Brass Harness Decorations

and also some examples of some hameplates HAMEPLATES - ******** THE COLLECTORS HORSE BRASSES

Thank you for the Links and I.D. I do kind of disagree with it being as late as 1850's. This site it came off of isn't a big site as far as concentration and everything that has came out of this place is early. Not saying you are wrong because could have been lost later. I did noticed the one in the link is lead filled. I kind of wonder if like rosette's, the 19th century one's where lead filled opposed to the 18th not being lead filled.

 

[Steve in PA]

I might add that these were also used as tippets on leather straps. They helped keep the end of the strap straight and made it easier to "thread" buckles.

 

[CASPER-2]

Thank you for the Links and I.D. I do kind of disagree with it being as late as 1850's. This site it came off of isn't a big site as far as concentration and everything that has came out of this place is early. Not saying you are wrong because could have been lost later. I did noticed the one in the link is lead filled. I kind of wonder if like rosette's, the 19th century one's where lead filled opposed to the 18th not being lead filled.

I see lot of them here and on other forums - many Ive seen have come from civil war spots - so 1850 is very plausible
I do not have a shield design like yours but have many other rein and saddle brass over the yrs - some from colonial spots others from 19th century spots

 

[DigIron2]

I might add that these were also used as tippets on leather straps. They helped keep the end of the strap straight and made it easier to "thread" buckles.

Those did cross my mind also Steve. I found these tippets at another site, but seem more like sheet brass, the shield is a little larger and a thicker cast brass.

 

[DigIron2]

I see lot of them here and on other forums - many Ive seen have come from civil war spots - so 1850 is very plausible
I do not have a shield design like yours but have many other rein and saddle brass over the yrs - some from colonial spots others from 19th century spots

I might be completely wrong. Besides where it was found, it just looks early to me?

 

[Steve in PA]

Thank you for the Links and I.D. I do kind of disagree with it being as late as 1850's. This site it came off of isn't a big site as far as concentration and everything that has came out of this place is early. Not saying you are wrong because could have been lost later. I did noticed the one in the link is lead filled. I kind of wonder if like rosette's, the 19th century one's where lead filled opposed to the 18th not being lead filled.

These are commonly found on 1790s to mid 19th century sites.

 

[johnnyblaze]

For years i also called them horse saddle shields..It wasn't until i found 2 early ones side by side up on a ledge behind a huge boulder i said to myself,No horse came up here
Super early site 1690's to about 1800..I find the really contoured ones were early and the ones with the more square edges are 19th century..
Now,that being said you showed us some leather straps with brass shields on them but i never seen any of the other pieces like the heart dug before?

~Blaze