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Description: | An incomplete cast copper-alloy hookpiece from a Anglo-Saxon sleeve or wrist clasp of Hines Class B12 (Hines 1993, 46-49), one terminal of this hookpiece is now missing due to an old break. This hookpiece is formed of a bar alone, this bar is measures 33.8mm in surviving length and 8mm in width, the central integral hook-element is wider, measuring 12mm in width, the bar is therefore a lower case T-shape overall. The bar has one integral surviving sewing lug projecting from the surviving terminal of its rear edge, measuring 5mm in external diameter and 2.5mm in internal diameter. The bar is decorated on its front face. The surviving terminal consists of a square slightly raised panel (from which the sewing lug projects) this has two opposing parallel horizontal boarder rows of small circular indentations, these may have been ring-and-dot motifs originally but are now worn. Inbetween both the complete and missing terminals and the central hook-element the bar is decorated with two parallel transverse mouldings each with three transverse grooves across it. The central hook-element is integral and rectangular in shape, measuring 20mm in length and 12mm in width. The rear edge of the hook-element is shaped. It is waisted and then flares into two parallel rounded projections at 45 degrees to each other. The rest of the hook-element is rectangular in shape and the front face has a moulded flower motif in its centre consisting of four pointed oval-shaped petals. Near to the front edge of the hook-element there is a worn and slightly irregular oval hole, measuring 7mm by 3mm in size. This hole destroys part of the moulded flower motif. It would presumably have accomodated the catch-element of the missing half of this wrist clasp. A very similar hookpiece has been discovered in Linton Heath, Cambridgeshire (Hines 1993, 47, fig 90, d). Clasps of this type are concentrated in and around East Anglia and are generally datable to the 6th century (Hines 1993, 46-47).
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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