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Description: | A copper alloy sub-circular section of a purse frame typically of Late Medieval to Early Post Medieval dating (c.1450 to c.1550).Late Medieval purse frames came in several sections. The main part consisted of a purse bar and hanger which hung off the belt. The purse bar supported the main part of the purse. Attached to the purse bar, were one or two supporting (pendent) arms, which would have the bag of the purse sewn onto it, to maintain the shape and increase the durability of the purse. It would have the additional advantage that it would make the purse slightly less susceptible to Cut-Purses (thieves) than a leather purse attached to a belt.Ward Perkins (1940, p162) has classified purse frames into two main types. Type A consist of a bar, longer than the length of the purse, and two pendent arms. The metal frames demonstrate stitching holes. Type B are smaller than Type A, and the pendent arms are of a circular section and hang directly from the bar.This part of the purse frame consists of a right hand end of an oval frame. It is most likely for the top flap of the purse as the upper surface has been decorated with a series of incised crosses (three diagonal lines crossing three diagonal lines at right angles). Towards the top of the frame fragment, three of the lines still retain a black substance infilling the incised decorative lines. This black infill is probably niello and would have been present in the other incised crosses. As it is part of a pendent arm, it is hard to determine whether it came from a Type A or a Type B.The frame has an irregular cross section, in a similar shape to a lower case 'e' with the top part of the 'e' being solid, and the curved tail part flat for attaching to the leather purse. The lower surface is plain and five holes remain present.The top part of the frame consists of a broken loop, presumably for attachment to the purse bar. The fragment no long lies flat, it has been warped laterally in the ground.It measures 81.35mm in length, 73.47mm width, 4.87mm thick and weighs 27.3 grams.The frame is mid green colour in appearance, with no bare metal or signs of active corrosion present.Reference:Ward-Perkins, J.B. 1940. Medieval Catalogue. London Museum. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.
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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