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Description: | A Medieval copper alloy probable book clasp (13th - 15th century). The object consists of two plates riveted together with two rivets, one located in each corner on the open end. The lower plate is roughly rectangular and undecorated. The upper plate is rectangular with a broad hook at one end and the other end has been decoratively cast to form an openwork tri-lobed pattern. The front surface of the upper plate is also decorated with punched dots and grooves. The grooves are arranged transversely along both edges forming a border, and then the dots are arranged in straight lines, within that the dots are arranged in circular patterns. There are faint circular lines visible that are probably the guide lines for the pattern.
As well as the two plates there is a third element to the clasp. This is a rectangular perforated lug that is attached by a rivet to the lower plate. The rivet passes through a perforation in the upper plate before attaching to the lower. The lug is attached so that the perforation is aligned across the width of the clasp. There are file marks visible on the lug. Remains of the leather strap are still present in between the two plates. It is similar to no. 15197 excavated in York, Ottaway and Rogers liken it to clasps found at other ecclesiastical sites including St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury; where the hooked ends may indicated use as book clasps (Ottaway & Rogers 2002:2898-9). Mid green patina.
Dimensions: length: 43.46mm; width: 25.26mm; thickness: 14.53mm; weight: 20.41g.
Ottaway, P and Rogers, N. Craft, Industry and Every Day Life: Finds From Medieval York Council for British Archaeology [pages: 2898-2899] | 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: | 1200
1500 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
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