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Description: | A cast, copper alloy keyhole escutcheon, probably post-medieval, dating from 1550-1700AD. It has been cut from a plate of sheet metal, in an ornate shape, but a portion of the upper edge has broken away and is missing. The left and right-hand edges are lobes decorated with two v-shaped notches with projecting knops at the corners. There is a small keyhole, centred in the lower half of the escutcheon. Below the keyhole the lower edge extends downwards into a point. The centre of the upper area displays the remains of a rectangular cut-out: whether this had a practical function or was simply openwork ornament is unknown. The upper surface is decorated with three ring and dot motifs, one on each side of the keyhole and one below. These are created by circular grooves surrounding a cup shaped depression and are surrounded by a border of rouletted crescents. This border continues around the edge of the artefact except for the rectangular cut-out in the upper surface. The right-hand decoration has been pierced through the centre, presumably to take a fastening rivet, and the other two have remains of their rivets in situ. On the underside are two possible fastening points, neither of which corresponds with the frontal decoration. To the left of the kehole is a short spike of metal that appears to have broken off; to the upper right a small, flat piece of metal has been attached with a copper alloy rivet. These are probably later repairs or evidence of reuse. The artefact has a patchy, dark green patina. It is 35.9mm long, 38.7mm wide and 2.7mm thick. It weighs 6.59gm. Similar items can be found on the database at references NMS-24B8B1, NMS-B9B073 and LEIC-E8EC18.
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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