Aug 10 O B

You are bidding on a VINTAGE HORSE BRASS COMMEMORATING THE REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA

• This object is a commemorative horse brass, specifically designed as a martingale medallion for heavy horse harnesses.

• Although this is a Victorian Design, I am of the opinion that it is a mid century copy.

Description

• Design: The piece features a pierced, scalloped circular design enclosing a royal crown centered between the initials "V" and "R".

• Symbolism: The letters stand for Victoria Regina (Queen Victoria of Great Britain).

• The brass explicitly bears the date 1870 cast across the lower half.

• Commemorative horse brasses of this specific design were popularly cast in the late 19th century (circa 1870 to the 1890s) to mark the middle period of Queen Victoria's reign

• The inclusion of the 1870 date on Queen Victoria horse brasses remains one of the most debated and intriguing mysteries among equestrian antiquarians. Unlike other royalty brasses that clearly mark a major event—like the Golden Jubilee of 1887 or the Diamond Jubilee of 1897—there is no single, definitive royal anniversary in 1870.

The National Horse Brass Society and seasoned collectors point to three main theories for its significance.

1. The Small Diamond Crown Theory

The most prominent theory among historians suggests 1870 commemorates the year Queen Victoria commissioned her iconic Small Diamond Crown. Following the death of Prince Albert in 1861, Victoria retreated into deep mourning and wore a traditional white widow's cap. Because her official state crowns were too heavy to wear over her mourning veil, this miniature crown was specially crafted for her in 1870. The design of the brass directly echoes this, featuring a prominent crown nestled between her initials

2. The Commercial Souvenir Boom (The "Richards" Mystery)

According to historical records from the National Horse Brass Society booklet Royalty Brasses, early brasses bearing specific dates prior to 1887 are highly unusual and often viewed with skepticism by experts. Many documentations suggest that a pioneer brass manufacturer, H.S. Richards, may have intentionally cast various arbitrary or loosely historical dates onto templates in the early 20th century to create immediate "vintage" appeal for the growing tourist and collector market.

3. The End of Official Public Mourning

Some collectors theorize that 1870 roughly marked the period where Queen Victoria began slowly stepping back into the public eye after a decade of complete seclusion. While she never fully discarded her mourning attire, this was the era where she began tentatively returning to major civic duties, such as planning the upcoming opening of the Royal Albert Hall in early 1871. [1, 2]

• The brass measures approximately 3 ½” x 3”

The item has some very light wear commensurate with age, apart from which it is in excellent condition.
Please note, the blue marks on the back (And a small mark on the front) is 'Blu-Tack' and should be easy to get off.)

Happy bidding!

Postage: £1.95
NB: I am selling Four Brasses at the moment and will gladly combine postage :-

Up to 3 for £2.49
All four for £2.85

We are a small family business, who wish to give our customers satisfaction. To this end, we would be obliged if you could read the following.

Postal Charges: We will always combine postage on any compatible items. For any which total less than 1K the price will stay at £3.99

Postage Schedule: We will always endeavour to post within one working day.

Thanks for your time: Jim & Donna