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Description: | Sheet copper alloy hook-plate from a book clasp, rectangular in plan and flat in section, one end is flared the other terminates in a hook. These clasps were attached to leather straps fixed to the book and helped to hold it shut by hooking into a corresponding catch-piece on the other side. There are three rivet holes, two placed centrally near the flared end and one nearer the hooked end which is slightly off centre and may have been added later. The one closest to the flared end contains the remains of an iron rivet; around the back of the rivet are black deposits that may be the remains of organic material from the leather binding of the book.
One end is bent over to form a central hook, 5.4 mm wide, beyond a squared off terminal. The half of the plate nearest the hook is decortaed on the upper side with parallel incised lines. Below these it is plain with two circles around the rivet holes - these may indicate the position of the rivet heads.
It is 46.9mm long, 12.1mm wide and 6.6mm thick including the hook, it weighs 2.73 grams.
Margeson (1993) illustrates a similar example but with a single rivet on page 74, Fig.40, No.452, which is dated to c.1550-1700. | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Burnett, Laura - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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