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Description: | A copper-alloy book clasp composed of two integral components; a sub-oval body, sub-drop shaped protrusion. The oval body is slightly domed with a central hole. This hole would allow a pegwhich was fixed to the opposite cover of the book to be inserted to hold the strap in place and keep the book closed. Protruding from one edge of the body are two lugs which have perforations at the terminal supporting a copper-alloy strap bar. Protruding from the opposite side of the body to the strap bar is an elongated lug which, in profile, has a flat base, and moulded upper edge which may represent an animal. This lug also has a central transverse perforation. The reverse of the clasp is undecorated and is flat. The surface of the clasp has a well developed mid to dark green patina.It measures 26.31mm long, 11.3mm wide and 5.26mm thick. It weighs 3.6g.The clasp would have been used in conjunction with leather straps to keep books closed when not in use. Egan (1998) illustrates similar clasps, for example No. 925, and comments that this clasp dates from the late 14th to early 15th century. Ottaway and Rogers (2002) illustrate similar sized clasps, Nos. 15236 and 14641 in particular, and these were found in late 14th to 15th century contexts. Ottaway and Rogers comment that these types of mounts are found on ecclesiastical and secular sites (2002, 2937) but these types may be more associated with books related to ecclesiastical business (2002, 2939) even when discovered on secular sites.
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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