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Description: | Incomplete cast copper alloy type A2 purse bar of Medieval, late fifteenth to early sixteenth century date (AD 1475 ? AD 1535). Length 104mm, maximum width 13mm and maximum thickness 9mm. Weight 40.05g. Most of one arm, the loop, shank and rove are missing. The break on the incomplete arm is old. When viewed from the top, the surviving arm is curved and not straight as it would originally have been. This type A2 purse bar is characterised by the use of niello within an engraved inscription and does not possess the animals? heads gripping the arms at the junction of the arm and the central block. The central block is shield-shaped and is about 13mm x 13mm. The circular hole to take the shank is 5.5mm in diameter and is off-centre. Between the central block and the arm is a moulding (rather than an animal?s head) which is sub-oval in cross-section and flares outwards from the block. The surviving arm is sub-rectangular in cross-section and has a maximum depth of 10.2mm, a maximum thickness of 4.6mm and is 49mm in length. The upper edge is slightly convex and the lower edge is straight and has two small integral attachment plates. The plates are semi-circular, as viewed from the side, and each has a circular rivet hole of about 2.2mm in diameter. The surviving expanded terminal is sub-circular in cross-section with a maximum diameter of 8.5mm and is 16.3mm in length. Mid-way along the length of the terminal is a constriction to accommodate the frame. This constriction is 3.5mm in length and has a diameter of about 4mm.The outer end of the terminal is slightly domed and at its centre is what appears to be casting sprue burred over in an attempt to make it flush with the surface. The purse bar is decorated with an engraved inscription inlaid with niello. However some of the niello is now lost. The inscription on the first face reads: AVE MARIA on the complete arm and G? on the incomplete arm. The letter A?s are unbarred and the A and R are ligated. On the central block are the initials AM formed by the letter V with an inverted letter V superimposed. The inscription on the second face of the incomplete arm appears to read V. However, it should be considered if this may be the end part of the letter M. If so, it is in a different style to the other letter M?s of the inscription. The remaining part of the inscription on the complete arm reads: TECVM. Beyond the letter M of this word is a crudely engraved six pointed star partially filled with niello. On the central block of this face is a letter S. The piece is in good condition and has a mid-green patina. Some of the niello is lost and some is decayed. | 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: | 1475
1535 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Frank Basford | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
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