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Description: | An incomplete cast copper alloy folding balance, probably dating to the Medieval period. The remains of the balance consist of two arms still connected to a short oval-sectioned central hinge piece (21.26 mm long, 4.40 mm thick), articulated by means of forked ends (each 6.3 mm long). The arms are slightly uneven in length, but measure approximately 55.8 mm long and are circular in cross-section with a narrowed, flat folding-end, which inserts into the hinge piece; the arms then taper gradually to a square-sectioned, sub-rectangular end; which ends in a thin, flat-sectioned square suspension end with circular loop hole. One small suspension loop link (6.67 mm diameter) remains attached to a suspension loop (1.5 mm diameter). The hinge piece has a small rivet running through its centre, with a circular rivet head on the underside and remains of a rectangular shaft protruding slightly from an oval depression on the upper surface. This rivet would have helped to secure the centre pointer and suspension loop. If outstretched the approximate total length of the balance arms would be: 118 mm.Egan (2010, p174; Fig. 142) illustrates a similar folding balance still contained within its sheet metal box alongside several coin weights; cf. also: Ibid, Figs. 240 and 243 for similar folding types. They are dated from the 14th-15th century, but balances using this principle have been recorded from the Early Medieval through to the early Post Medieval period. Some examples are recorded from Anglo-Saxon sites in MacGregor and Bolick (1993, p257), although none of the examples listed come from secure contexts. For similar examples on the PAS database, see: NMS-69EC22; NMS-464E72; KENT-DCA976.
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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