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Description: | Incomplete cast copper alloy sword belt fitting or baldric ring, circular in profile and D-shaped in section, having a slightly flatter inner edge. The outer surface of the ring or hoop is inlaid with red glass triangles, arranged in a pattern pointing inwards from the edge, so that the alternating copper alloy spaces are triangular or diamond-shaped. The glass is the so called 'sealing wax' glass of the Iron Age, called thus because of the opaque deep red colour. It is technically known as enamel when in fact it is chips of glass inlay. The glass has undergone SEM analysis with Mary Davis (NMGW) and appears to be leaded glass with copper as a colouring agent. The bedding metal is not lead but a tin rich solder containing lead, which is unusual for bedding glass. There is a tapering projection extending from the base of the ring which is 7 mm long and has broken off whatever it was attached to. The projection may have extended into a stud at right angles to itself, as suggested below (see ESS-1D1BC2). The frame has a diameter of 17 mm and the band is 8.6 mm wide and 3 mm thick. The object has a total length of 24.4 mm, of which 7 mm is the extension. The fitting weighs 5.25g. "I have not seen one with decoration around the ring, but on some 1st Century AD variants there is decoration on the end of the stud that comes out at 90 degrees to the ring." (Dr. J.D. Hill pers comm) Other similar examples on the PAS database have been found in Surrey, Kent, Sussex (eg. SUSS-D82452, SUSS-4C9825, SUSS-4C8491, SUSS-913C68) and Essex (eg. ESS-1D1BC2). Late Iron Age La Tene III/D c.120 BC - AD 50
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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