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Description: | Two conjoined gilt cast copper alloy side-links from a bridle bit, of probable later medieval or post-medieval date (1400-1650).
Both side links are similar in shape but differ slightly in size.
The first side-link is roughly cruciform in plan, and sub-rectangular in cross section. It has a wide sub-rectangular body (33.4mm long x 6.5mm wide x 2.8mm thick) and two centrally located sub-oval (lentoid) arms (each 7.5mm x 4.2mm x 2.3mm). At one end of the link is a small single integral cast loop, set at right angles to the body (measuring 7.5mm x 5.2mm x 1.4mm). At the other end, the body of the link flares slightly into two parallel cast loops again set at right angles to the body of the link (each 6.5mm x 4mm x 2.5mm). There is a gap of 3.6mm between the two loops.
The second side link is almost identical to the first in that it is roughly cruciform in plan and sub-rectangular in cross section. It has a wide sub-rectangular body (31.4mm x 7.1mm x 3mm)and two centrally located sub-oval (lentoid) arms (each 8mm x 4.2mm x 2mm). At one end of the link is a small single integral cast loop, set at right angles to the body (measuring 6.5mm x 4.7mm x 2.3mm). At the other end, the body of the link flares slightly into two parallel cast loops again set at right angles to the body of the link (each 6.5mm x 3.2mm x 2mm). There is a gap of 4.3mm between the two loops.
The two side-links are joined together by a small copper alloy rivet, which is inserted through the two parallel loops of one link and the single loop of the other. This rivet is formed by rolling a sheet of copper alloy into a tight tube, rather than being cast as a solid pin. The rivet measures 1.5mm in diameter and 7mm in length. A similar copper alloy rivet is present between the two parallel loops of the second link. This possibly suggests that the loop of a third link broke leaving this complete rivet in situ.
Both links have been decorated and gilt only on one side, the front face. The reverse of both is blank. The decoration is broadly similar on both pieces. It consists of a series of linear incised lines which create diamond shaped internal panels with diamond or cross shaped borders. The decoration on the lentoid side arms are again created with incised lines. However, these lines create zoomorphic images of stylised animal heads. These motifs are difficult to interpret as this part of the artefact has sustained the most abrasion. The best example can be interpreted as a stylised horses head, having small dot eyes and a long nose with two nostrils at the end.
The links have been slightly abraded in the plough soil. This has caused some of the gilt and incised decoration to be lost. The patina is mid brown - dark green in colour and there are no areas of active corrosion. | Format: | text/html | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ | Publisher: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Rights holder: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Subjects: | archaeology | Temporal: | 1400
1650 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Peter Reavill | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
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