|
Date: |
|
Description: | Apost medieval bone ashcupeldating 16th-18th century. The vessel is a truncated cone is shape with a shallow concave depression in the wider end. There is some damage around the rim and the base. The internal base has a circular section that has a smoother texture than the internal or external walls.Cupels are used in refining or assaying precious metals. Bayley, Dungwood & Paynter (2006: 19) write"From Roman and Saxon times small ceramic dishes, often called heating trays, were used as cupels... By 1600AD cupels made from absorbent bone ash were being used in England. Small-scape cupellation was used to test the purity of a sample of precious metal: a process known as assaying... Large-scale refining of silver using cupellation took place in hearths lined with absorbent material, usually burnt and crushed bones (bone ash) or calcareous clay."Dimensions: height: 15.43mm; diameter at the top: 27.39mm; diameter at the base: 21.97; weight: 21.32g.Reference:Bayley, J. Dungworth, D. and Paynter, S. 2006. Centre of Archaeology Guidelines Archaeometallurgy. English Heritage, London.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
|
|