This article is about the covering laid over an animal. For the guitar company, see Caparison Guitars. For the caparisoned horse in military funerals, see Riderless horse.
A caparison is a cloth covering laid over a horse or other animal for protection and decoration. In modern times, they are used mainly in parades and for historical reenactments. A similar term is horse-trapper.[1] The word is derived from the Latin caparo, meaning a cape.[2]
In the Middle Ages, caparisons were part of the horse armour known as barding, which was worn during battle and tournaments. They were adopted in the twelfth century in response to conditions of campaigning in the Crusades, where local armies employed archers, both on foot and horse, in large quantities. The covering might not completely protect the horse against the arrows but it could deflect and lessen their damage.
An early depiction of a knight's horse wearing a caparison may be seen on the small Carlton-in-Lindrick knight figurine from the late 12th century. Modern re-enactment tests have shown that a loose caparison protects the horse reasonably well against arrows, especially if combined with a gambeson-like undercloth underneath. Medieval caparisons were frequently embroidered with the coat of arms of the horse's rider.
In 1507, a horse disguised as a unicorn at the tournament of the Wild Knight and the Black Lady in Edinburgh had a caparison of black and white damask lined with canvas.[4] A caparison made of red taffeta for the horse James VI of Scotland in June 1591 may have been intended for a masque performed at Tullibardine Castle.[5] Velvet caparisons lined with buckram were made for Henrietta Maria and her gentlewomen in 1630s.[6]
In the Indian state of Kerala, elephants are decorated during temple festivals. They wear a distinctive golden head covering called a nettipattam, which is often translated into English as an elephant caparison. However, it covers only the head, not the body, as in a horse caparison.
^. Online Etymology Dictionary. Archived from the original on 2015-03-24. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
^Cline, Eric H. (10 March 2010). Jerusalem Besieged: From Ancient Canaan to Modern Israel. 76: University of Michigan Press. ISBN978-0-472-02537-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
^James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 3 (Edinburgh, 1901), p. 257.
^Michael Pearce, 'Maskerye Claythis for James VI and Anna of Denmark', Medieval English Theatre 43 (Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 2022), p. 118.
^Arthur MacGregor, 'Horsegear, Vehicles and Stable Equipment', Archaeological Journal 153 (1997), pp. 176, 195.
External linksedit
A caparison made for the wedding-celebration of Gustaf II Adolf of Sweden and Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg, 1621
Caparisons in the 14th-century German – Codex Manesse
caparison, this, article, about, covering, laid, over, animal, guitar, company, guitars, caparisoned, horse, military, funerals, riderless, horse, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citation. This article is about the covering laid over an animal For the guitar company see Caparison Guitars For the caparisoned horse in military funerals see Riderless horse This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Caparison news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message A caparison is a cloth covering laid over a horse or other animal for protection and decoration In modern times they are used mainly in parades and for historical reenactments A similar term is horse trapper 1 The word is derived from the Latin caparo meaning a cape 2 The Dukes of Brittany left and Bourbon on caparisoned horses at a tournament fight 1460s from Le Livre des tournois by Barthelemy d Eyck Contents 1 Horses 2 Domesticated and temple elephants of India 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHorses edit nbsp Picador on a caparisoned horse at a bullfightIn antiquity a magnificently caparisoned horse takes a central place in a vision reported in the deutero canonical text 2 Maccabees 3 25 which prevents the Seleucid emissary Heliodorus from a planned assault on the Jewish temple treasury in Jerusalem 3 In the Middle Ages caparisons were part of the horse armour known as barding which was worn during battle and tournaments They were adopted in the twelfth century in response to conditions of campaigning in the Crusades where local armies employed archers both on foot and horse in large quantities The covering might not completely protect the horse against the arrows but it could deflect and lessen their damage An early depiction of a knight s horse wearing a caparison may be seen on the small Carlton in Lindrick knight figurine from the late 12th century Modern re enactment tests have shown that a loose caparison protects the horse reasonably well against arrows especially if combined with a gambeson like undercloth underneath Medieval caparisons were frequently embroidered with the coat of arms of the horse s rider In 1507 a horse disguised as a unicorn at the tournament of the Wild Knight and the Black Lady in Edinburgh had a caparison of black and white damask lined with canvas 4 A caparison made of red taffeta for the horse James VI of Scotland in June 1591 may have been intended for a masque performed at Tullibardine Castle 5 Velvet caparisons lined with buckram were made for Henrietta Maria and her gentlewomen in 1630s 6 Domesticated and temple elephants of India edit nbsp A decorated Indian elephant carrying a howdah during a fair in Jaipur India nbsp Nettipattam on a Caparison elephantIn the Indian state of Kerala elephants are decorated during temple festivals They wear a distinctive golden head covering called a nettipattam which is often translated into English as an elephant caparison However it covers only the head not the body as in a horse caparison See also editHorses in the Middle Ages Barding Horses in warfare Temple elephant War elephant Horse blanketReferences edit Trapper sold at Christie s caparison n Online Etymology Dictionary Archived from the original on 2015 03 24 Retrieved 20 April 2015 Cline Eric H 10 March 2010 Jerusalem Besieged From Ancient Canaan to Modern Israel 76 University of Michigan Press ISBN 978 0 472 02537 4 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location link James Balfour Paul Accounts of the Treasurer vol 3 Edinburgh 1901 p 257 Michael Pearce Maskerye Claythis for James VI and Anna of Denmark Medieval English Theatre 43 Cambridge D S Brewer 2022 p 118 Arthur MacGregor Horsegear Vehicles and Stable Equipment Archaeological Journal 153 1997 pp 176 195 External links editCaparisons in 13th 17th century illustrations and artwork A caparison made for the wedding celebration of Gustaf II Adolf of Sweden and Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg 1621 Caparisons in the 14th century German Codex Manesse nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chambers Ephraim ed 1728 Caparison Cyclopaedia or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences 1st ed James and John Knapton et al nbsp This equine related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Caparison amp oldid 1175422937 Horses, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
