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Description: | An Early Post-Medieval (1500-1700) copper alloy book-clasp, measuring 68.05x32.39x6.56mm and weighing 13.51g. It is slightly curving in profile.The sheet copper alloy is 1.57mm thick. The hook at one end is 8.20mm wide and does not curve back on itself, although the end appears worn and unbroken. Behind the plate is 20.53mm wide, narrowing sharply to 17.88mm wide. The plate then expands gradually to 19.36mm just before the flared end (max. width of 32.39mm) which is crenellated to its outside edge. Behind the hook is a corroded presumably iron rivet, in situ. It is c.2mm in diameter. Another rivet hole at centre of the plate is c.1mm in diameter. At the centre of the flared end are two further rivet holes, one 1.7mm in diameter and the other (with in situ rivet) 2.5mm diameter. Above the flared end are three presumably decorative holes, the central one being 2mm in diameter, the other two c.1mm in diameter.The book fitting is very worn and all original patina has been lost. The metal is now a reddy-brown purple in colour. Around the central rivet hole are three concentric rings, and around the group of three holes, two concentric rings. From these, extending into the flared end, are groups of diagonal incised lines, each group angled in a different direction to that next to it. Above the outer two of the three concentric rings, three vertical lines extend upwards for a short distance.Numerous similar clasps are recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database. Illustrated examples of book clasps have been published in monographs and journals. For example, see: Crummy, N. 1988. 'The post-Roman small finds from excavations in Colchester 1971-85'. 68, fig. 67, refs. 2992-2995. Colchester Archaeological Report 5. Colchester Archaeological Trust. Margeson, S. 1993. 'Norwich Households. Medieval and Post-Medieval Finds from Norwich Survey Excavations 1971-78'. 74, fig. 40, refs. 452-456. East Anglian Archaeology 58. Ottaway, P and Rogers, N. 2002. 'Craft, Industry and Every Day Life: Finds From Medieval York'. 2936, fig. 1503, refs. 14489 and 15234. The Archaeology of York Vol. 17. An array of illustrated book clasps have been published in Treasure Hunting magazine. See: Bailey, D and Bailey, G. May 1991. 'Clasps and Fasteners'. Treasure Hunting. 36-42. 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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