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Description: | Probably a hasp section of a cast copper alloy, hasp and clasp type dress fastener, probably c. 1600-1750. It is the "eye" half of a hook and eye. The fastener is of openwork design, the main body being in the shape of a heart. Below the bottom of the heart is a short, rectangular crossbar above a lozenge shaped projection that is pierced with a circular hole probably for attaching to a garment. Above the heart is a lozenge shaped perforation, flanked by two small lobes with circular fastening holes and above this a rectangular loop to accept the clasp section. There is a trilobed projection into the centre of the heart at its apex. The fastener has a dark green patina and there is wear in the centre of the rectangular loop. It is 42.5mm long, 24mm wide and 2.1mm thick. It weighs 4.92gm. The object has many similarities with Dress Fasteners, but the uneven wear on the loop seems to contradict this theory. An almost identical object but with the loop broken off is SUSS-EC7CE1 which has been identified as a strap fitting. A parallel can be found in Read (1998, 122; ref. 7) that is there described as a 17th-century wall or furniture hook. It is also possible these objects are suspension mounts or pendants of some kind. Although the exact function is not certain, all interpretations suggest the same post medieval date.
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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