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A housen is a piece of decoration attached to the top of a horse's collar. This is an eighteenth century wooden housen carved with traditional figures, possibly dragons, and with a date, 1781. The donor acquired it from a farm in Knowl Hill, Berkshire, where it had been used as an ornament in the house.

housen: wood

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This is a painted wooden housen, carved with traditional animals, possibly dragons. The date 1781 has also been roughly carved on it. It came from Micklem’s Farm, Knowle [sic] Hill (Berks) and was used to ornament a corner cupboard. // It measures 27 inches over the crown and 16 inches across the base.', MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 51/384 – 'Housen are a decoration attached to the top of a horse’s collar. Their origin is obscure, but they may have developed from the guard attached to the front of the saddle to protect the groins of a knight in armour. In the 19th century, housen were usually made of leather, often fringed with red and yellow worsted and decorated with brass mountings. They are also known as HOUSINGS or HOUNCES. The etymological origin is obscure, but it may be derived from O.Fr. huche.'

1775-01-01 - 1799-12-31

Late-eighteenth century