Gorget

In Europe during the Renaissance period the helmets of warriors were fitted with a crescent-shaped plate called a gorget, which extended downward to protect the throat. Gradually, this armour became obsolete due to the use of firearms, but some breastplates, helmets and gorgets were brought to North America for protection against native arrows. The use of this armour declined here too, in favour of increased mobility, but the crescent-shaped gorgets continued to be worn separately by officers as a badge of military rank and authority, and consequently had appeal as trade items denoting strength and power. Reference Hamilton, pages 69-71.

trade; personal decoration; status

Repousse is a type of ornamentation formed in relief in metal by hammering up from the reverse or inner side.

Crescent-shaped gorget with an engraved crown at the centre. There is a hole at the top of each side. Close to the right hand hole is a stamp of a star, and maker’s mark in a square cartouche.