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Description: | TREASURE CASE : 2015 T799.A late medieval silver gilt book clasp dating from the mid-14th to 15th century (1350-1500). The object has a hollow rectangular and flat attachment end with a slightly off centre rivet through the open edge. The front face is decorated with incised floral moulding consisting of four interlinked leaves placed to create a small central circle; this floral decoration is housed within a square at the attachment end of the clasp. The background area of the square is filled with crudely incised cross hatching. From the side of the fitting opposite the open attachment end the clasp has a hollow integral lozenge-shaped element which has an integral square panel set upon the upper surface. The square panel has a slightly concaved surface which is decorated with an incised, stylised four petal flower with very small pellets in its centre representing the stamen. This lozenge then protrudes into a stylised animal head. Grooves along each edge of the clasp connect to mouldings suggestive of eyes and either ears or horns. The clasp terminates in the animal snout or mouth which is in the form of a pierced ring oriented at right angles to the rest of the clasp; this has broken although the detached piece was found with the clasp (weighs 0.07g). The reverse of the entire clasp is smooth and undecorated with an elongated hole in the centre corresponding to the front lozenge and revealing the hollow interior. The clasp has bent from force possibly during use, resulting in a break on the front face and the lozenge centre detaching from the terminal. Although bent, the reverse remains unbroken.Dimensions:Length: 36.92mm; Width: 13.38mm; Thickness: 6.48mm; Weight: 5.65g.Discussion:Claps such as this are a form of strap end, and have been characterised as such in the past. More recently a specialised use as a book clasp has been suggested (Geake 2001, p.61; Ottaway and Rogers 2002, p.2938; Egan 2010, p.277), and recorded as such in the Portable Antiquities Scheme Annual Report 2004/5 (p.71-71). The riveted terminal would have been attached to the end of a strap on one side of the book, and the hole on the underside would have fitted over a corresponding peg on the other cover. When intact the terminal perforation may have held another ring as is recorded on an example from Hampshire (HAMP-C0F9E7). This ring was then most likely attached to a cord so that the clasp could be more easily removed from the peg on the book.The majority of clasps have been found in archaeological contexts of the late 14th to 15th century (Ottaway and Rogers 2002, p.2938). Their specialised purpose was determined from surviving medieval books and also detail on a statue from the chapter house of St Mary's, York (Egan 2010, p.277; Ottaway and Rogers 2002, p.2938). Many examples have been found at ecclesiastical sites and it is suggested that they are particularly associated with ecclesiastical institutions (Ottaway and Rogers 2002, p.2939).The form and decoration of this clasp are similar to other recorded examples on the PAS database, although the majority are gilded copper-alloy: IOW-108BF1, NMS-2D8BB6, IOW-7D75B7, NMS-AF7512, SUR-322ED5, BERK-B866CA, SOM-B11921, SOMDOR-A28111, and WMID-6A6108. Parallels can also be found in: Ottaway and Rogers 2002, p.2936-2039 and Egan 2010, p.277-280.References:Geake, H. (2001). Finds Recording Guide Version 1.1. Portable Antiquities Scheme Ottaway, P. and Rogers, N. (2002). Craft Industry and Every Day Life: Finds From Medieval York. York: Council for British Archaeology. Egan, G. (2010). The Medieval Household: Daily Living c.1150-1450 (Medieval Finds from Excavations in London). London: Museum of London. Portable Antiquities Scheme. (2005.) Portable Antiquities Scheme Annual Report 2004/5. London: Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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