|
Date: |
|
Description: | An incomplete Early Post-Medieval (1500-1700) copper alloy book-clasp with damage to the widened, crenellated end, and possibly missing part of its hook. It measures 56.60mm in length, 19.02mm in max.width, 4.72mm in depth, 1.20mm in thickness and weighs 6.15g.The hook is 7.65mm in width and 1.56mm thick. Behind, the top of the plate is 16.30mm wide with a squarish recessed panel of possibly impressed decoration, the furthest edge of which is crenellated and has two triangle shapes cut out of it. The panel is divided in two , with one rectangular panel behind the hook and the remaining panel comprising a central triangle with a half triangle to either side. Inside the central triangle is a raised fleur-de-lis; in each half triangle is a raised fleur-de-lis but projecting inwards from the outside edge, at 90 degrees to the central fleur-de-lis. A double line of raised beading flanks the crenellated edge of this panel, a single line of raised beading above a plain raised rib divides it from the second panel. The second panel has at its centre a C and backwards-C shape with their arms extending into curlicues. Along the curved backs of the C are c.5 tiny rectangular projections. Beyond each C, at either end of the panel, is a pair of trefoils - one inverted beneath the other. Flanking this panel's edge is a single raised rib and a single line of raised beading.The edges of the book clasp narrow slightly to 15.24mm wide, at which point the terminal expands into the damaged crenellated end. Just before is a large amount of iron corrosion and an apparently in situ iron rivet with two stamped concentric rings around.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 |
|
|