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Description: | Front plate of the hooked section of a Post Medieval book clasp. The sheet plate is rectangular in plan with one end (the strap attachment end) widened at the end. This attachment end is damaged with old breaks but may originally had a convex curved outer edge. The opposite end is straight and from the centre projects an integral backward facing triangular hook which narrows evenly towards the rounded tip. There is a circular hole for a rivet punched through near the attachment end which now holds the remains of an iron rivet.The upper surface is decorated with what appears to be very worn cast or stamped decoration.The attachment end is plain. At the hook end there is a panel across the piece, adjacent to the hook that has an unclear interlace design, then a row of possible crosses or fleur de lis alternating with pellets. There is a further band of decoration beyond this with a row of arches within which are acanthus leaves. This series of bands takes up about a third of the length. The back is plain.The metal has a mid reddish-brown patina with patches of green corrosion and is very worn. The clasp is now bent in half. The book clasp is c.47mm long, 16.8mm wide, 1.2mm thick and weighs 3.46g.The form and decoration are typical of book clasps of the early post-medieval period, as discussed by Margeson (1993: 74).
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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