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Description: | An incomplete cast copper alloy pommel (developed 'Brazil Nut' type) from a long sword of Medieval date (AD 1250 - AD 1300).The pommel is broadly oval in plan, with a curved upper surface and angular base. It is sub-triangular in profile. A small sub-rectangular cast hole is present on the upper edge positioned at the peak of the dome. This hole would have originally accommodated the tang from the sword. The lower bottom edge has a larger irregular sub-rectangular cast hole. The inside of the pommel is hollow. There is a crack running horizontal and then vertically on the back of the object, part of the pommel is missing. On the base of the object, next to the sub-rectangular hole, is a smooth area, it could be argued that this is silvering, or it could be just that the area has been worn smooth. The base, which curves upwards at the ends, would have rested upon a concave pommel bar. Many pommels of this type were filled with molten iron or lead to counterbalance the blade, however this example does not contain any iron or lead.The sub rectangular hole measures 16.3 mm by 13.0 mm. The pommel measures 39.4 mm in length, 56.6 mm wide and 19.3 mm thick. It weighs 45.3 g.The object is a mid to dark green colour, with an even surface patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of some of the original surface detail.Ward Perkins, in the London Medieval Catalogue (1940), suggests that Brazil Nut pommels (Type III of his classification) belong to long swords with relatively wide blades and wide fullered groves and long straight quillons. He suggests that the style dates later within the date range (probable post 1250) but seems to be obsolete by the beginning of the 14th century (1300). He also says that swords with this style of pommel are represented in Maciejowski Bible of c.1250 (pp23-26) but are under-represented in tomb effigies and brass monuments of the period.
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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