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Description: | A slightly incomplete cast copper alloy key, dating to the 14th/ 15th century, between AD 1300 - 1500 (length: 76.5mm; width at head: 32mm; thickness: 10mm; weight: 25.6g). At the top of the key, there is a slightly incomplete and separately attached hollow and circular collar (length: 8mm; diameter: 11mm), which may have been used as a suspension loop from a belt or a person?s neck. Along certain areas around the outside edge of the collar, there are two crude incised lines. The collar is attached around the top protruding knob of a lozenge-shaped bow (length: 25mm; width: 32mm; thickness: 4.5mm), which also has protruding knobs to the left and right at the pointed tips. At the bottom of this bow, there is another collar (length: 6mm; diameter: 10mm), which is moulded and slightly raised with a single incised line around the bottom. The circular and hollow shank of the key then extends from this collar (length: 44mm; diameter: 7.5mm) to a slightly incomplete tip at the end. There is also a break down the length of the shank below the collar (length: 133mm; width: 2mm). The complete bit (length: 13.5mm; width: 15.5mm; thickness: 3mm) is comprised of one bar which has a notch at the top near the shank and another notch along the outside edge. Overall, the key is in a slightly worn but fair condition with a silver/ dark green patina. A very similar design was found at Fresh Wharf in London and is now part of the Museum of London collection (see London Museums Catalogues: No. 7, 1940, page 140 & plate XXX, ref no 30). This type of key has been classified by Ward Perkins as a Type V in the catalogue, and may be dated to the 14th and 15th centuries. | 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: | 1300
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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