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Thus does England's greatest poet draw attention to monumental brasses as worthy memorials
Brasses first appeared in England during the 13th century. On the continent their history is slightly earlier, the original art form probably deriving from the stone carvings on the tombs of the Middle Ages.
The faces do not actually depict the person whom they commemorate until some portraiture occurred in the Elizabethan era - in Shakespeare's time in fact.
The earliest brasses are large, simple and boldly incised. By the late 15th century however, larger workshops developed to handle the growing demand. The armour and costume are nearly always faithful to the period and are an invaluable guide to study in those fields
Until the 16th century the plate for the brasses was imported from Flanders and Germany. It was called "latten" and the craftsmen and artists working on the brasses were known as "lattoners".
Although at one time there were several hundred thousand brasses throughout the country, today there are less than 4000 which have survived, the oldest in the country being that of Sir John d'Abernon at Stoke d'Abernon, Cobham, Surrey. A truly striking military figure seven feet tall.
Much has been written about the design, the heraldry and art of brasses. Your local library will be able to supply you with a list or alternatively you can contact the Monumental Brass Society for further information and details about membership
Alternatively refer to Nigel Saul's excellent essay on the MBS site
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