Harnais De Cour

Historias De Carres > Autumn-Winter 2011

Two little horses went to court, dressed in the finest bridles wrought… Outstanding craftsmen devoted themselves to creating these ceremonial harnesses commonly used in France until the middle of the 19^th century, thereafter reserved for the Royal court and gala outings… Manes braided with silk or trimmed with bands of velvet adorned with tassels and embroidery called palatines, rosettes of metal or cord, gleaming blinkers, hand-punched leather by master saddle-makers. It is easy to imagine them cutting a dash so harnessed, with each of their steps resounding with the sound of hooves on the ground and of the jangle of buckles engraved with their master’s crests.