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Description: | A complete cast copper alloy spherical / domed button, of Late Medieval to Early Post Medieval dating (15th to 16th Centuries AD).The button can be described in two parts: the head and the shank.The head is circular in plan and D shaped in cross section. The shank is sub rectangular in plan and rectangular / flat in cross section. The head is of the plain / domed / convex style, with no trace of decoration remaining. The shank was cast integrally and consists of a flat sub rectangular plate, located centrally on the rear of the button. The shank has been set at right angles to the long axis of the head. A small hole (internal diameter is 2.93mm) is present towards the end of the shank.The button is a dark mid green colour with predominately an even surface patina. Along the edges, there are a few areas of light green discoloration, where the surface patina has been displaced. These areas are signs of active corrosion occurring, and to prevent further deterioration of the artefact, it should be stored in a dry acid-free environment (Stewart box, acid-free tissue and silica gel).The button measures 13.46mm in length, 9.44mm head diameter. It weighs 2.4 grams.From excavations in London, eight cast buttons were excavated, either from Ceramic phases 7/8 (c.1200-c.1260 AD) or from Ceramic phases 11/12 (c.1350-c.1450 AD) (Egan, 1991, p274). None are copper alloy, like this example or a of direct decorative comparative example, however they are of the same manufacturing method (solid buttons with integral shank, cast from three part moulds), so presumably of a similar dating and functionality. Bailey suggests that buttons of this style are more consistent with Tudor dating (Late 15th to 16th Centuries AD (Bailey, 2004, p29), and this date range is consistent with the majority of examples recorded on the PAS database. Therefore this button is probably more likely of Late Medieval to Early Post Medieval dating (15th to 16th Centuries AD) than earlier, but earlier dating due to changes in fashion is still a possibility.References:Egan, G. 1991. Buttons in Egan & Pritchard, 1991. p272-280.Egan, G. & Pritchard, F. 1991. Dress Accessories c.1150-c.1450. Medieval Finds from Excavations in London: 3. Museum of London. HMSO, London.Bailey, G. 2004. Buttons & Fasteners 500 BC-AD 1840. Greenlight Publishing, Witham. Essex.
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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