Replica of a chamfron

Add to album

A chamfron is a mask and headpiece worn by a horse when on parade. This picture shows a reconstruction of fragments of a Roman leather chamfron with brass studs found at the site of the Roman fort at Newstead in Roxburghshire.

The chamfron is covered with a design that features three sizes of brass-headed studs. The globular bronze eye-guards of the original chamfron were not recovered at Newstead, but the reconstruction illustrates how they would have looked.

Roman cavalry units held tournaments where they put on spectacular displays. The cavalrymen wore fancy helmets which covered the face as well as the head. The horses were elaborately dressed up as well, with headgear and silvered metal fittings.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-100-103-288-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.1997.272
• Date: late 1st century
  Original: between 80 and 100 AD
  
• Material: Chamfron / replica
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Chamfron / replica
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead
  
• Event:
• Description: Replica of leather chamfron, a horse's headpiece, with globular bronze eye-guards, from the Roman site at Newstead, late 1st century
  
• References:
  • Clarke, D.V., Breeze, D.J., and Mackay, Ghillean. The Romans in Scotland. An introduction to the collections of the National Museums of Antiquities of Scotland. Edinburgh: National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, 1980, p 25. 
• Translations:
• Related Records: