The History and Origin of Horse Brasses

By Reginald A. Brown

This vintage book contains a detailed treatise on horse brasses, being a guide to their origin and the symbolic meaning of various designs. This fascinating and profusely illustrated volume is highly recommended for horse brass collectors and those with an interest in the subject, and would make for a worthy addition to any collection. Contents include: “Horses – Sports and Utility”, “The Power of the 'Evil Eye'”, “Sun Worship and the Horse”, “Ancient Records of Amulets for Horses”, “The Earliest English Horse Amulet”, “History of Amulets and Horse Brasses in Great Britain”, “Victorian and Later History”, “A Set of Brasses for a Cart Horse”, “The Origin and Meaning of Various Designs”, etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on horses.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Apr 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781446546505

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

Considerable interest is now taken in horse brasses. Originally they decorated cart horses, but now, while still used for this purpose, are also collected to make an attractive display on the walls and fireplaces of club rooms, lounges, etc. Their collection provides an interesting, instructive and inexpensive hobby, although the early hammered brasses are rare, expensive and difficult to find.

Many owners will be surprised to learn that the designs, though not necessarily the actual horse brasses, have a long history and that they are symbols of old religions and superstitions. Apart from those recently manufactured to meet the requirements of the collector, practically every genuine old horse brass incorporates a design or symbol, which it was originally hoped would bring good luck, secure the good will of some ancient god, or protect both horse and driver from the ‘evil eye.’

I am aware that many collectors argue there is no authenticated historical reason for many of the designs and it is also true that the largest number of brasses are of fairly recent origin, and made between 1860 and 1910 (in which year the largest maker of brasses ceased operations) and that the majority of cast pieces were designed between 1850 and 1890, often as a trade symbol. It is also very unlikely that farmers and drivers purchasing brasses bought them for any particular lucky or symbolic reason, but for the simple and human idea of adorning their treasured horses with attractive brasses of a general or even locally popular design.

Even while all this is true, the designs are generations old, though most of the brasses are quite modern. Surely it is too much of a coincidence when we find that the majority of the designs still used are traceable to lucky symbols, or associated with ancient gods and goddesses who have been linked with the horse, sport or agriculture for centuries.

Many patterns, apparently so casually made and used, are as old as humanity, and new patterns are often combinations of old ones. Therefore, though it is certainly difficult to prove, it may well be assumed, in view of so many symbols having long and verified associations with the horse, that all horse ornaments were originally amulets. When in the 19th century, the use of horse brasses came into general vogue in this country, the old symbols associated with the decoration of the horse were worked up into designs for horse brasses. Though the original meanings were forgotten, in practically all designs traces of the old symbols are retained.

In all parts of the world lingering superstition encourages the use of amulets, and many devices still in use can be definitely traced to the participation of the horse and its owner in old religious and pagan ceremonies of long before the Christian era. Horse brasses, are, in the view of many, interesting survivals of the time when superstitions were rife: show how widespread were these superstitions, and still more how the power of the old beliefs is still perpetuated from generation to generation, long after the original meanings are lost.

Probably the most conservative man in the world is the horse owner, and still decorates his cart horses, the descendants of the old war horses, with amulets and various symbolic designs on the harness.

The driver who polishes up the decorations and brasses on his horse before going to the show or fair is not only performing the same task, but is often polishing up exactly the same designed amulet, as that belonging to the man, who, accompanied by his horse, proposed to attend some sun festival hundreds of years ago.

The plain disc or rosette, which is still to be found on both sides of the brow band of the bridle is a relic of sun worship, and even to-day farm hands polish up these discs because of a vague belief that it may improve the weather and make the sun shine.

Some years ago an old Somerset farmhand told me it was unlucky to put a peacock brass on a gelding. He did not know the reason, but had heard from his grandfather that they must always be put on the mare. Now on reference to page 49 you will see that in early days brood mares were decorated with a peacock designed amulet, or with peacock feathers, because this bird was associated with the worship of Hera, who presides over birth.

The two original reasons for the use of horse brasses and other decorations, and the basis of nearly all the pattern designs, are the association of the horse with sun and moon worship and, in later years, the fear of the effects of the ‘evil eye.’

THE POWER OF THE ‘EVIL EYE’

THE USUAL REASON for using brasses or amulets was, and still is, either to bring good luck, or to ward off the effects of the ‘evil eye,’ as it was at one time thought