Belt to Horse Brass Display | Re-use It

 Hello!

If you've been here a few you may have noticed that I, with DHs help, like to re-use decor/furniture in a way different or sometimes updated from there original use. It's economical, keeps things from going to the dump, and it can be fun. So I hope you enjoy this months Re-use It project! 

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Today I'll be using my dads belt (that I asked my mom if I could have after he passed) and one of my favorite items to collect, horsebrass. I've loved horsebrass for a long time, but never ran across any in antique stores.  Around the time I started blogging I discovered a beautiful blog by Alison at The Polo House. (<-- Instagram)  She's no longer posts on her blog, but you can visit Here, nor does she live in the renovated Polo stables. But she does still have an Etsy Shop that has a good amount of horse brass, plus other equestrian antiques and this is where I have bought all of mine. I love her shop!

Table of content

◇ What is horsebrass?

◇ Supplies Used

◇ How I Assembled It

What is horsebrass? 

Some of you may think you don't know what horsebrass is...but I bet you do! 

Horse brasses are decorative brass plaques that hang on horse harnesses, especially heavy horses or parade horses.

The earliest decorations on horses are believed to have been in the form of charms for the purpose of warding off evil spirits. The practice grew into a tradition which gathered pace during the nineteenth century with the introduction of brass ornaments which, after 1850, were available in large quantities and in many different designs from specialist manufacturers. Here 

 

Among the patterns to be found, apart from purely geometric designs are various trade motifs. For example, the millers' horses could be decorated with brasses incorporating wheatsheaf’s or windmills into their design; the farmer could choose from a variety of horse designs, and there were locomotive designs for railway carters. The brewers had a choice of barrel patterns and there were even crossed saws and tree motifs of timber merchants.

Commemorative brasses were also produced to celebrate special occasions particularly those connected with royalty. Queen Victoria's Golden and Diamond Jubilees produced a wonderful crop of special brasses. Each subsequent royal occasion has produced its quota of designs. Here 

Supplies Used

• Belt or leather strap 

• Leather lace or Here

• Leather hole punch or Here

• Bowl of warm water (to soak lace)

Assembling

1. Submerge lether lace in bowl of warm water (it makes it easier to work with).
2. Lay the belt on a flat surface. Then lay out the horse brass the way you want it attached to the belt. 
3.  Mark the area for the whole with a sharpie. 
4. Use the Leather punch to make the holes. 
5. Remove leather lace from water and place on a towel to absorb excess water. 
6. Loop leather lace through horsebrass , then feed through holes.
7. Tie a knot to secure and cut off excess (as the leather dries the knot will become tighter)

This is what it looks like...

xoxo Tina  

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