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Description: | A slightly corroded and damaged cast copper-alloy hook-piece from a post-medieval dress fastener (17th century AD). The plate is oval/ovoid originally with five angular attachment knops. These are located in pairs along the sides; that at the terminal has been lost. They are perforated and recessed probably for sewing the object to an item of dress (Geake 2001, 42). Two are just above an angular collar that separates the plate from the recurving hook; this latter has been broken. The upper surface of the plate is decorated with engraved and punched lines and curves, mainly forming a spray of flowers. At their base are three upturned punched crescents. Above the main spray are two annulets, above which, in the centre, are two pairs of crescents, the second closer together. The field is finely cross-hatched and the decoration is bordered with small annulet punches. The lower surface of the object is plain; both surfaces are covered in tinning over a corroded red-brown metal. The knops have been bent upwards which, along with the hook, gives the piece a certain concavity. Read (2008, 173) classifies this form with five attachment knops as his Early post-medieval Class A, Type 4, although only illustrates an eye-section (ref. 653); a hook-piece of similar decoration but only three knops (Read's Class A, Type 2) can be found illustrated in ibid. (171; ref. 641).
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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