Vintage 1930’s horse brass

Vintage 1930’s horse brass mounted on leather depicting Anne Hathaways cottage and William Shakespeare’s house. A horse brass is a brass plaque which was used to decorate the harnesses of heavy working or draft horses in the United Kingdom particularly in England. They became popular from the mid 19th century but their use for decorating harness declined with the mechanization of farming in the early part of the 20th century. However they remained popular as souvenirs and home and pub decor. Folk-lore and myths suggest the brasses were used as amulets to ward off the “evil eye” and so they are sometime regarded as a good luck charm. 20cm total length 8cm wide 7.5cm diameter each brass