Horse Brass Bridle Harness Medallion, Widecombe Uncle Tom Cobley, Vintage Collectibles

• Pattern: Vintage Horse Brass Medallion, Widecombe, Uncle Tom Cobley and All, Equestrian
• Vintage : 1940's - 1960's (estimated)
• Details:  These horse brass bridle medallions are highly collectible!  They have been collected and displayed for hundreds of years.  Today they are also used as home decor in many creative ways: tied with ribbon on vases, ginger jars, lamp bases, on gift wrap as accents, on Christmas wreaths, as Christmas Tree ornaments, we've even seen them given as mementos at Kentucky Derby parties and other equestrian events!   This one is marked: "Widecombe, Uncle Tom Cobley and All".  Widecombe is an annual fair held in Devon.  There's a song associating Uncle Tom and his friends at this fair.  This medallion is a heavier brass than most, with wonderful markings and patina.  There are no manufacturer's marks so we're unable to tell you much beyond the description, but we know most of these are English or Scottish.  There is very little shine to it, most like the old patina, but it can be polished for a higher shine if using as decor or other purposes where a brighter look is preferred.  
• Material: Brass
• Dimensions: 3.0 inches in Diameter (at its widest point). 3.75 inches Long (incl. hanger).
• Condition:  Vintage - Used. Very Good Vintage Condition.  As with all used brass items there are surface scratches, spots and markings, acceptable due to age/use/wear.  Since some like the old patina on brass, we didn't attempt to polish.  Please review all pictures and make sure you love this item before purchasing, we can't accept returns.  Please remember these are ANTIQUE and VINTAGE items, they are NOT new, every effort has been made to show any scratches, wear and tear and imperfections.  

Trimming horses with horse brass dates back to the pre-Roman period (fourth to the first century BC). Horse brass medallions first appeared in England in the 1700’s, later in Scotland. So many different motifs were made, they each represented the horse owner’s trade. Farmers had agricultural objects like trees and barnyard animals. Some trades were illustrated with images of churns and barrels. The regal families had medallions made bearing the family crest or a portrait or an image of a bear, lion, unicorn or elephant; in hunting circles the stag, fox, hounds, eagles and swans were common.  Others, like this one, were created to commemorate an event.  Believed to ward off evil spirits, today they are highly collectible decorative items.