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Description: | Incomplete 13th century medieval steelyard weight. Once globular, this object is now much damaged. What remains is approximately one third of one curved outer face of the weight, with the lead core being entirely missing. Extending horizontally from the top of the curved face is a damaged section of the flattened top of the object, where the loop would once have been fixed. The curved face is decorated with an integral, moulded raised shield within which is a double-headed eagle. Above the shield, at the top of the curve, is an incised border, within which are incised V shapes, each hatched with three horizontally incised lines. The triangles created between the V's are plain. The object is worn with a mid green patina to the front, and a lighter green patina with patches of green corrosion to the reverse. There is a patch of reddy brown corrosion to the front. The break edges are worn suggesting damage occurred in antiquity. The object has a surviving length of 40.02mm and is 49.48mm wide. The flattened top has a surviving diameter of 14.76mm. It weighs 38.48g. An parallel can be seen in the Museum of London Medieval Catalogue, , plate XXXVIII, number 3. Medieval steelyard weights were made of latten (copper, zinc, lead and tin) and had a lead core. When complete they were globular with a flattened top with a triangle shaped suspension loop and were used for the weighing of goods etc. Most are embossed with shields with heraldic or pseudo-heraldic designs. The double-headed eagle was a device used by Richard Earl of Cornwall, younger brother to King Henry III between 1257 and his death in 1272. His brother had placed Richard in charge of the new Royal coinage, which may have extended his powers over weights and measures.
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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Medieval copper alloy steelyard weight…
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