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Horse Brass - Lincoln Imp or Faun, 1825-1939 Reg. No: ST 034497

Summary:: Horse brass depicting a seated figure. There are two possible interpretations of its form. The most likely possibility is that it represents a Lincoln Imp which features cloven feet, one leg raised so the foot rests on the other knee, both hands holding the raised leg, open mouth with sharp teeth, cow ears and a hairy body. The second interpretation is that it may be a faun which is, according to the "Dictionary of Superstitions and Mythology" by B. Bonnerjea (1928), "an Italian deity of the fields and woods represented as having human form with pointed ears, small horns and some times a goat's tail or as half goat and half man". Kidney shaped border. Type: cast brass. Comments: there is a mark on the back right hand side possibly made by a grinding wheel. Date: 1824-1939.
Acquisition Information:: Donation from Mr W. Haysom, 1982

Discipline:

Technology

More information

Tagged with:	amulets, animals, cultural beliefs, folklore, harnesses, heraldry, horse brasses, rituals, souvenirs, symbols
Themes this item is part of:	Cultural Diversity Collection, Sustainable Futures Collection
Primary Classification:	AGRICULTURE & RURAL LIFE
Secondary Classification:	Animal Husbandry
Tertiary Classification:	horses
Date Made:	England, Great Britain, 1825-1939
References:	http://www.horsebrassera.co.uk/history.htm, viewed, 23.05.2008 LDH http://www.nationalhorsebrasssociety.org.uk/Contents/Text/Index.asp?SiteId=903&;SiteExtra=12607593&TopNavId=31&NavSideId=12554, viewed, 23.05.2008 LDH "COLLECTIONS - Strange Amulets for Horses", http://nmz.ponyclubvic.org.au/site/ponyclub/nmz/downloads/kcertstuff/issue9-april05.pdf, viewed, 23.05.2008 LDH http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_brass, viewed, 23.05.2008 LDH http://antiquehorse.com/newbookspage2.html, viewed, 23.05.2008 LDH http://www.antiquehorse.com/antiquehorsepage3.html, viewed, 23.05.2008 LDH http://www.darwincountry.org/explore/000934.html, viewed, 23.05.2008 LDH
Bibliography:	[Book], Alain Gheerbrant, Jean Chevalier, The Penguin Dictionary of Symbols, Penguin Books Australia Ltd., Melbourne, 1994, 1994 [Digital Medium] Horsebrass Era. 2007. Illustrated Guide to Horse Brasses., 2007

Comments

Mick Holland Posted on 12 Apr 2012 2:39 AM

Isn't this a representation of the Lincoln Imp?

http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&sugexp=llsin&gs_nf=1&pq=the%20lincoln%20imp&cp=0&gs_id=2&xhr=t&q=lincoln+imp&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=lincoln+imp&aq=0&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=a08472565c1ba65c&biw=1440&bih=724