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Description: | Medieval cast copper alloy rotary key with zoomorphic bow and elaborate bit on hollow drilled shank; 12th-13th century. Incomplete - the outer edge of the bow is broken off. The bow would have been circular - it has moulded decoration of an animal head on either side; they are biting the missing part of the bow - the bow appears to narrow sharply between the heads, which presumably contributed to the damage. Collared knop at the junction of the bow and shank. Sub-circular hollow shank. Rectangular asymmetrical elaborate bit (25.0 x 6.5 x11.5mm) with asymmetrical channels - one along the outside edge, one at the far end and one transverse off-centre. Mid brown-green patina with some areas of powdery light green. Length 85.5mm, width of bow 28.2mm, width of shank 8.2mm, width across bit/shank 21.0mm, thickenss of handle 5.7mm, thickness of shank 7.6mm, thickness of bit 6.6mm, weight 38.11g.A key with a very similar bow is published in Mills 1999 ('Medieval Artefacts', Greenlight) p.75 no.207, and is dated to the late 13th 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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