File:HARNESS PENDANT (FindID 544429).jpg

English: A cast copper alloy, medieval shield shaped harness pendant dating from 1300-1340. The shield is divided down the centre line. The left half (sinister) shows the three lions (leopards) passant gaurdant of England on a red (gules) background. The right half (dexter) shows two complete fleur de lys, and three half fleur de lys on blue (azure). This represents a field of fleur de lys of France ancient.. The enamel is virtually complete, but the gold metal colour (gilding) is lost from the lions and fleur de lys. The remains of the suspension loop are in place at the centre of the upper edge of the shield, at 90 degrees to the main body of the pendant. The upper part of the loop has broken away and is missing. Some gilt remains on the base of the loop. The reverse has a light brown patina. The pendant is 40.4mm long, 25.04mm wide, 3.26mm thick at the shield, and 5.05mm thick at the loop. It weighs 10.07gm. For reference see London Museum "Medieval Catalogue", page 118.

There is a similar pendant to this on the PAS Database, YORYM-CD27D4. There is also one on the UKDFD Database, Ref. No.-9253. This correctly identifies the arms of England and France; but incorrectly suggests that they allude to Edward III's claim to France. In 1340 Edward claimed the Kingdom of France and quartered the arms of England and France. Because the arms on the pendant are impaled England/France it must refer to the marriage of Edward I to Margaret of France, or of Edward II to Isabella of France. The arms would have been used by the Queens of England, who also had a King of France for a father. For a reference see Charles Boutell, "English Heraldry" pages 122-124.

A crucial piece of evidence for this is the silver gilt casket of Isabella of France, (British Museum, M&ME 1872,12-16,1) This shows her arms as Princess of Wales on one side (as the pendant but with a label with 3 tags). The other side shows the arms of Margaret of France (as the pendant, no tags). (Although only the left halves of the three lions are shown. This an artistic convention and shows the arms are dimidiated (halved). For reference see John Cherry, " Medieval Decorative Art", pages 27-28. The arms on the pendant can thus be dated to between 1299, when Edward I married Margaret of France, and 1340, when although Isabella of France was still alive, the arms of England and France were quartered.

Pendants with arms impaled for marriage are rare. The PAS Database ref. IHS-605777 has the arms used by Philippa of Hainault as Queen of Edward I, between 1328 (the date of marriage) and 1340, as again the pendant has just the three lions in the left half. Two more examples on the PAS Database of arms impaled for marriage are WILT-AE5CO2, and IHS-1C8B51.