What are Horse Brasses?
With roots in pre-Roman practices, the horse brasses widely collected today originated in England in the mid-1500s as ornaments adorning horse harnesses. Horses brasses, as their name alludes, are either cast or stamped brass—the method varying based on fluctuations in manufacturing tendencies of the era— into the symbol of choice. These symbols vary greatly as a reflection of the location, horse, and owner, incorporating local customs and landmarks, superstitions, industry markers, and more. Common symbol themes include luck and superstition, royal reigns and commemorative events, local and regional landmarks, agriculture, religion, and heraldic symbols. Today, while the traditional use of horse brasses have fallen wayside with the times, vintage horse brasses are treasured family heirlooms and highly sought-after collectors items.
As a born-and-raised horse girl, I love incorporating equine influence into my personal style and decor. For those who don’t know, the American horse community is often split into two broad brackets: English and Western. I grew up riding English while living in a predominantly Western horse community before moving to Texas—an even stronger Western stronghold—home for a very formative 8 years, during which time I embraced and incorporated Western elements into my personal style. Our medallion necklaces are born out of the amalgamation of the English and Western equine influence, combining the vintage English horse brasses with the bold flare of Western-style jewelry.
Our signature horse brass medallion necklaces are handcrafted with authentic vintage horses brasses, carefully sourced and selected to ensure true vintage medallions in all variety of symbols and sizes, as well as the uniqueness of every Mac Warman necklace. Once the brasses arrive at our Denver studio, we lovingly restore them before embracing the individuality of each medallion, thoughtfully pairing it with either a raw brass chain or a raw brass collar necklace to enhances the medallion’s symbol, size, and patina. Each chain necklace is finished with a raw brass clasp and raw brass tag bearing our signature M.W. for authenticity then tucked inside our microfiber or cotton pouch for safekeeping, depending on the necklace style.
The Story of Our Medallion Necklaces
Embracing uniqueness & individuality
Authentic vintage horse brasses vary greatly in many aspects—a characteristic that we embrace further by constantly scouting for and sourcing a variety of styles of new and antique raw brass chain. We then consider the medallion’s symbol, size, and patina to select and pair the perfect chain that enhances the unique beauty of every horse brass. The individuality of the brasses and our emphasis on honing that uniqueness ensures that every Mac Warman necklace is an original, unique work of art that cannot be duplicated.
While you may see similar symbols of horse brasses available from time to time, please note that each brass is an unique, authentic vintage item that will vary in detail elements, size, patina, detail depth, wear, etc., as shown in the image to the right.
