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Description: | Three decorative sheets of folded lead alloy. Each sheet is similar in size to the others although the decoration differs on each. They all seem to be formed from separate sheets of metal. Two of the sheets have been folded in half whilst the third has been folded into three. It is possible that the sheets were actually once rolled into a tube but the movement and weight of the soil has flattened them into sub-rectangular shapes.A) The object measures 36.5mm length, 15.5mm width, is a maximum of 6.4mm thick and weighs 6.3 grams. The object was formed from a single sub-rectangular sheet which was 0.9mm thick. This sheet seems to have a cast design on it. The design might have been formed through repousse techniques but the appearance of the design on the front face would suggest casting. The reverse of the sheet cannot be examined without opening the sheet. The design is contained by a sub rectangular raised border which is situated at the edge of the sheet. Within this border a series of smaller panels have been created. These panels are filled with a series of cast (?) diagonal lines which interlace forming irregular diamond shaped patterning. This patterning is not present across the whole of the surface but seems to have survived (?) best on the upper and lower thirds. The sheet has split at the bottom of the object and a number of dried grass (?) stems are contained within. These stems may have come from the burial environment but this is unlikely. There is no evidence of cloth or material in association with the grass stems. The two edges of the folded sheet seem to have been pressed together (but not soldered). This joint has split. The lead has corroded in a number of places; this is most evident in the light grey powdery corrosion product present, especially around the areas of damage. The rest of the object has a mid - dark grey coloured patina. B) The object measures 36.8mm length, 16.6mm width, is a maximum of 6.4mm thick and weighs 8.22 grams. The object was formed from a single sub-rectangular sheet which was 1.2mm thick. It is decorated in a similar manner to the example described above (1). This sheet seems to have a cast design on it. The appearance of the design on the front face would suggest casting. The reverse of the sheet cannot be examined without opening the sheet. The design is contained by a sub rectangular raised border which is situated at the edge of the sheet. Within this border a series of linear and curvi-linear lines are present. These have been abraded and so are not especially clear. It seems as if the panel has been separated into four fairly equal panels; within each are a series of letters or symbols. These symbols are repeated in each quarter. It is possible that one of these figures is an M or M like shape but the preservation of the sheet does not allow confirmation of this. The edges and sides of the sheet are abraded. The two edges of the folded sheet seem to have been pressed together (but not soldered). This joint has split and one edge is broken. The lead has corroded in a number of places; this is most evident in the light grey powdery corrosion product present, especially around the areas of damage. The rest of the object has a mid - dark grey coloured patina. C) The object measures 37.1mm length, 12.7mm width, is a maximum of 6.7mm thick and weighs 6.84 grams. The object was formed from a single sub-rectangular sheet which was 1.3mm thick. It is decorated in a similar manner to the examples described above (1 and 2). This sheet seems to have a cast design on it. The appearance of the design on the front face would suggest casting. The reverse of the sheet cannot be examined without opening the sheet. The design is contained by a sub rectangular raised border which is situated at the edge of the sheet. Within this border a series of linear diagonal lines divide the space irregularly. This design is the clearest of all three objects. Each divided area contains a symbol or letter. These are not especially clear, however at least two the marks seem to be either W's or small harps, in another adjacent panel is a small sun (circle with radiating spokes). In another area is either an irregular M or possibly an arrow (or pheon). The edges and sides of the sheet are abraded and one small area has been lost. Unlike the above examples this object has been folded into three parts with a clear folded overlapping seam. The two edges of the folded sheet seem to have been pressed together (but not soldered). This joint has split and one edge is broken. The lead has corroded in a number of places; this is most evident in the light grey powdery corrosion product present, especially around the areas of damage. The rest of the object has a mid - dark grey coloured patina. Identification of these items is difficult. They share a number of similarities with lace chapes; however they are much larger than these chapes. One possible explanation would be as a bag seal, with the lead alloy sheet, with the makers' or couriers' arms or device on it. This sheet would be wrapped around the top of the bag to form a seal. A direct parallel for this has not been found in the limited books available. The designs and the material (lead / lead alloy / pewter) suggest a post medieval date (1500-1700), however without direct parallels this is uncertain.
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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