Collar of Esses 15th century

exact copie of a 15th century original which is conserved in the Victoria & Albert Museum in Great Britain.

Various forms of livery were used in the Middle Ages to denote attachment to a great person by friends and political supporters. The collar was usually given by the person the livery denoted to his closest or most important associates . From the collar hung a badge or device indicating the person the livery related to.

This famous livery collar, which has never passed out of use, takes many forms, its Esses being sometimes linked together chainwise, and sometimes, in early examples, as the ornamental bosses of a garter-shaped strap-collar. The oldest effigy bearing it is that in Spratton church of Sir John Swynford, who died in 1371. Swynford was a follower of John of Gaunt, and the date of his death easily disposes of the theory that the Esses were devised by Henry IV to stand for his motto or "word" of Soverayne. Many explanations are given of the origin of these letters, but none has as yet been established. During the reigns of Henry IV, his son (Henry V), and grandson (Henry VI), the collar of Esses was a royal badge of the Lancastrian house and party, the white swan, as in the Dunstable Swan Jewel, usually being its pendant.

Besides these royal collars, the 14th and 15th centuries show many private devices. We can produce the badge with your family arms.

Solid heavy silver 925, partially goldplated and decorated with two big rockcrystals.

Length: 82 cm