|
Date: |
|
Description: | Medieval tinned copper-alloy book clasp, with characteristic box-like construction. The socketed part containing the strap is square-ended with a central V-shaped notch in the upper edge and is pierced by two rivet-holes, both containing copper alloy rivets to secure the strap. The very corroded face of the plate appears to be inscribed with an elaborate M, perhaps for the Virgin Mary.The plate is butted against a box-like lozenge-shaped composite element with a separate inserted square silver plate, inscribed with a lozenge, quartered at angles and set within short radiating multiple notches. The stylised animal-head terminal comprises two parts with a vertical join, is butted against the lozengiform box and has a very corroded loop at end of the snout, through which a ring or cord would have been attached.The above elements are attached to a separate back-plate, which is perforated on the reverse of the lozenge-shaped box. Length 85mm, width 33mm, thickness of lozengiform 'box' 10mm.Book-clasps such as these are attached to a strap on the back cover, and use the hole on the reverse to clip over a projecting peg on the front cover; the religious inscription would fit such a use. Fingerlin (1971, Abb.174-8) dates these to the second half of the14th century. Compare NMS-2D8BB6.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
Strap End
Medieval tinned copper alloy composite…
-
STRAP END
Tinned copper-alloy object of box-like…
-
-
-
STRAP END
Medieval Tinned strap-end for scabbard…
-
-
-
-
-
STRAP END
Blackened, possibly burnt, and corroded…
|