|
Date: |
|
Description: | Medieval copper alloy balance of folding beam type and probably of 13th to 15th century date.The balance is near-complete, missing the central suspension loop and both scale pans and is now corroded with both arms extended upwards (with an original length across the beam of approximately 250mm and a weight of 53.3g). The stubs of the integral suspension loop survives at the centre (7mm wide). There is a central perforation through the beam (with a diameter of 3.9mm) and the central beam is of oval section, narrowing slightly to the hinges (with a length of 53.3mm). No decoration is evident on the central beam. The arms are circular-sectioned with a larger diameter near the centre (of 6.5mm and 3.5mm at their terminals and with lengths of 110.7mm and 110.2mm). There are decorative mouldings of sub-square section near the centre and at the terminals. The mouldings were enhanced with a ring-and-dot on each face but now corroded. Both terminal loops (with a diameter of 2.2mm) survive but the suspended scale pans have been lost. The surface is heavily-corroded with remnants of a dark-green patina and areas of coarse-sandy deposits encrusted on the surface.Copper alloy balances, both rigid and folding have been recovered from excavations of numerous medieval sites, and may have been used for person commercial transactions (Margeson, 1993, p. 204) . The balance could be closely paralleled with an incomplete example found at Salisbury, which has a similar decorative pattern on the arms and has been dated to the mid-13th century (Saunders, 2001, p. 120, 129 no. 5) .1. Margeson, S., 1993; Norwich Households: The Medieval and Post-Medieval Finds from Norwich Survey Excavations 1971-1978; East Anglian Archaeology Report No. 58, 19932. Saunders, P (ed.). 2001. Medieval Catalogue Part 3. Salisbury and Wiltshire Museum, Wiltshire.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
BALANCE
A medieval copper alloy folding…
-
-
-
-
BALANCE
An incomplete copper alloy Medieval…
-
BALANCE
An incomplete copper alloy Medieval…
-
BALANCE
An incomplete later Medieval folding…
-
BALANCE
Copper alloy stirrup or pivot…
-
BALANCE
Copper alloy stirrup or pivot…
-
BALANCE
Copper alloy stirrup or pivot…
|