Mount of Henry VI

Photo: Bristol City Council CC By SA2.0
Object type: Mount
Period: Medieval
Primary material: Silver
Date found: 03/04/2022
Location: Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire

Description

A silver gilt mount showing a standing king, holding a globus cruciger (an orb surmounted by a cross) in his left hand and a sceptre in his right. It could have been mounted on a strap or possible a book. The PAS record states that there are no known parallels for this mount and uses to clues in the design to try to identify the king.

Bust and crown

The style of the bust and crown can be found on coins of the 14th and 15th century.

Letter H

To the left of the king is a Lombardic H which is similar to letter H on 15th century coins. If, as seems reasonable, the letter H refers to a king then, presuming it’s 15th century, this could refer to Henry V, Henry VI or Henry VII.

Rose

To the right of the king is a rose. This has only one row of petals, in contrast to the double row of a Tudor rose. Hence, the rose could point to the house of Lancaster. The use of the rose symbol became more prominent during the War of the Roses.

Henry VI

Taking all of these factors together suggests that the strongest candidate for the identify of the king is Henry VI.