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Description: | Description: A silver T-shaped lift key with a thickened handle and oval bow. The bow is decorated with a terminal knop and three part cusps at the sides. A block of square cross-section forms an elongated collar between the bow and stem with a narrower block. Each face of the upper block is decorated with five transverse incisions. Each face of the lower block is decorated with two cross in saltire (three on one face). The stem is broadly circular in cross section and has been bent to one side. It terminates in the T-shaped bit which appears to have been decorated on both faces with both transverse and longitudinally incised lines, now worn. Discussion: Manning (1985, Plate 40; refs. O23-O25) illustrates lift keys of similar form with T-shaped bits. No parallel has been found for this decorated example in precious metal.Dimensions: Length: 59.8mm; width: 16.2mm; max. thickness: 4.4mm; weight: 6.88g. Analysis: Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis of the surface of a lift key from Micheldever, Hampshire identified the white metal as a silver alloy with approximately 95% silver, 3% copper, 1% gold and a trace of lead.As the key contains at least 10% silver and is at least 300 years old, it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.R Webley Finds Liaison Officer, Hampshire 18th August 2011Susan La Niece Antony Simpson Department of Conservation and Scientific Research The British Museum File No. 749254 29th May 2012
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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