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Description: | A largely complete hook-piece from a copper-alloy post-medieval book-clasp. It is sub-rectangular in shape, with a flared attachment end. At the opposite end is a curved hook (7.7mm wide) the tip of which has been lost. Below this the main body of the clasp is 13.7mm in width, flaring to a maximum of 16.2mm at the attachment end. At the attachment end the are two small triangular removals which define a tri-lobed shape. There are two rivet holes near the attachment end and a third near the hook end, all in the centre of the plate one above the other. The two holes near the attachment end are filled with iron corrosion, probably from the rivet. Both are surrounded by a large incised circle. There is a row of parallel incised lines, top and bottom stepped to make a pheon, above the hole near the hook end. There are three pairs of diagonal incised lines level with this hole, the middle pair are cut by the hole.
Book-claps bearing similar decorative motifs can be found illustrated in Crummy (1998, 68). These examples are given a 17th-century date although some similar book clasps are thought to be c.1550-1750 in date. This artefact has a dark red-brown colour. It is 50.7mm long, 0.7mm thick and weighs 2.85 grams. | 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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