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Description: | A fragment of Medieval (c AD 1270-1350) copper alloy shell from a globular steelyard weight consisting of about an eighth of the surface area and missing its lead core. It has a mottled green patina. It measures 28.08mm high, 32.64mm wide, and 3.64mm thick. It weighs 16.48 gm.The shape of the fragment is basically the remains of one of the shields, with a small amount of plain surface to the left and the right of the shield. There would probably, originally, have been three or four shields. This shield is triangular with a slight curve to the long edges, similar to a heater type shield. The shield is a more unusual type as it has the chevrons of the Clare coat of arms. This was included as one of the shields on steelyard weights, after Edmund, Earl of Cornwall married Margaret de Clare in 1272. The other shields were the three lions (leopards) of England, the lion rampant for Poitou/Cornwall, and the double headed eagle displayed for the Holy Roman Empire/Hanseatic League. These three coats of arms had represented Edmund's father when he had the responsibility for weights and measures; that Edmund had inherited from him in 1272. The addition of the Clare arms confirms this responsibility.Edmund died in 1300 so this weight should date before then, but steelyard weights were used till circa 1350 when they were banned, and maybe even after that. So it may be that his arms were still used after 1300 to guarantee the weights were official. And copies of the official, centrally produced weights were also produced with less authentic, even bogus coats of arms.For other fragments on the database see SWYOR-3BC0B1, SWYOR-CF19C2, SWYOR-DBC057, SWYOR-574980, SWYOR-2AB6F0. And for a fragment with the Clare arms see NMGW-FA12.For complete steelyard weights with the Clare arms, in addition to the other "official" shields see SF-9C8F61, WILT-2FAE84, SF9678.For complete steelyard weights with representations of the Clare arms, but also non official arms see SF-4D5B25, HESH-BEAAE6, SF7628.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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Incomplete Medieval cast copper alloy…
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