|
Date: |
|
Description: | Incomplete copper alloy object, possibly a Roman tankard handle. This object consists of a semicircular end plate that is chipped and damaged around its circumference. Extending from this is the 'handle' which is arched but with an integral flat front plate. Viewed with the object vertical and face on, this plate is sub triangular in plan, with the single point uppermost in this view, and has been damaged so that its two lower corners and part of the right hand side are missing. It is decorated with an incised border, about 1mm in from the edge, and four vertical incised lines that run centrally for its entire length. This results in creating three 'bands', the outer two of which are decorated with incised horizontal lines along their length. The arch side that supports the single pointed end of the plate is rectangular in section and plain, but at the broad end the arch support, also subrectangular in section, is moulded with two horizontal ridges, the lower of which is decorated with incised vertical lines along its length. This support springs from a similar end plate to the semicircular one, but damage has reduced it to a fragment so that its true shape is not discernible. The original surface of the object is mostly intact and is dark green in patina. Where the surface is damaged, the object is lighter green. There are significant patches of orange and bright green corrosion to the front and reverse of the object. To the reverse of the semicircular plate is a significant lump of bright green corrosion product. The object is 43.16mm long, 22.96mm wide across the semicircular plate, 16.34mm wide across the opposing damaged plate, 15.98mm wide across the front plate of the handle, 2.5mm thick at the front handle plate and weighs 9.84g. The support arms of the handle are 6.76mm long.Unfortunately damage to the end plates and corrosion encrustation does not reveal whether there are rivet holes, which would lend weight to the object being a tankard handle. There are also no direct parallels to be found. However when viewed in profile the end plates clearly have a raised profile and this is seen on other examples of tankard handles, such as those from Camerton (Jackson 1990, numbers 119 & 120). The small size of the object suggests that if this were a handle that it would only accommodate a single finger, but this would probably be enough support to stop it slipping. This factor is also discussed by Jackson in his report.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
VESSEL
Incomplete copper alloy object, possibly…
-
Vessel
Fragment of cast copper alloy…
-
VESSEL
Fragment of cast copper alloy…
-
VESSEL
Fragment of cast copper alloy…
-
TANKARD
An incomplete cast copper alloy…
-
Tankard
An incomplete cast copper alloy…
-
HOARD
On 19th December 2007, Mr.…
-
BROOCH
Bow brooch. Wide arched bow…
-
BROOCH
Bow brooch. Wide arched bow…
-
|