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Description: | A complete post-Medieval copper-alloy book clasp (c. 1550-c. 1600).The fitting is formed of two sheets riveted together. The front plate is roughly rectangular in shape. In plan, it has a flaring 'fish-tail' attachment end and tapers to the terminal end. The 'fish-tail' end is notched. At the front it has raised decorative linear lines extending lengthways throughout its length. Near the hook end the lines form a rectangle which contain a raised circle. At the 'fish-tail end there are some decorative oblique lines. Close to this end, on the front sheet, there are three circular counter-sunk holes arranged in a triangle. The diameter of each counter-sinks are about 1.4mm and the holes are about 0.8mm in diameter. Beyond these three holes, towards the notched end, there are two copper-alloy rivets that secure the front sheet to the back sheet. At the terminal end there are two transverse projections, one at either side, and at the extreme end there is a narrowed hook which curves to the rear through 180°. At this end the plates may be soldered together as no rivet is visible, unless the raised circular element camouflages rivet ends on both faces. The hook would have originally hooked on to a bar on the other half of the fitting, which was attached to the reverse side of the book. The back plate is the same size as the front plate and, like the front plate, flares at the 'fish-tail' end. This artefact is corroded and has no patina. The metal is drab brown in colour with patches of bright green corrosion products. One corner of the front plate at the 'fish-tail' end is missing.28.1 x 10.6 x 1.8mm. Weight: 1.91g.Similar clasps may be seen in Margeson's 'Norwich Households', pp.74-5, no's: 453 and 454. These, Margeson suggests, both date to the second half of the 16th century.Numerous book fittings of this type are recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database. For example, see finds: DENO-596D98, HESH-0FA366, IOW-347A31, KENT-F13B17, SUSS-918036, SWYOR-1FC9B4 and WMID-2DB371.
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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