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Description: | A cast copper alloy key, possibly a casket key. The handle/bow and an unknown quantity of the stem is missing. What remains of the stem is oval in section. One terminal is slightly bulbous. This terminal is broken, but it is not a recent break. The opposite terminal is tubular and has an integral off-set 'L' shaped bit. There is traces of iron corrosion at this terminal. The surface of the key has a traces of a dark brown/green coloured patina. In length it measures 24.38mm, and the widest point is the bit/stem which is 11.24mm. The thickness of the stem is 3.53mm. It weighs 2.2g.Margeson (Margeson, S. 1993 Norwich Households; Medieval and Post Medieval Finds from Norwich Survey Excavations 1971-78. East Anglian Archaeology Report No. 58) illustrates a similar key, No. 1311. This is dated to the 13th to 14th centuries. Goodhall I.H. in Biddle (Biddle, M. 1990 Object and Economy in Medieval Winchester Clarendon Press, Oxford) illustrates similar keys also, Nos. 3759, 3772 and 3798 which date to mid 13th to the early 16th century.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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