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Description: | A large fragment of a medieval (c.1250-1350), copper-alloy shell from a globular steelyard weight. It consists of about one third of the total surface. It is missing its lead core. It has a dark green patina, with some light green marks where it has been scuffed. It measures 45.91mm high x 39.72mm wide (deep) and a diameter of c50.96mm. The metal of the shell is 2.37mm thick. It weighs 74.42g.The fragment consists of one complete square-topped heater-shaped shield in relief, with a lot of plain surface to both sides. Above the shield is a typical band of incised decoration which would have circled the top of the weight. It consists of a transverse groove, above which are eight triangular "shields", each with two transverse grooves. This decorative band is engraved quite crudely. At the top of the decoration is is a flatter area on which are the remnants of the triangular lug, which would have had a circular suspension loop at its centre.There were probably originally three relief shields on the weight. Two have been lost with the rest of the shell. The shield that remains has a raised border into which are cast five pales, or piles (vertical strips, the pale with parallel sides, the pile tapering downwards). Probably this shield was intended heraldically as paly, similar to the arms of the kingdom of Aragon.See on the PAS database SF-A4B342 for a similar shield on a steelyard weight fragment, and the more complete example SF7848, which is illustrated by a drawing showing three shields. One has a two-headed eagle displayed, one the lion rampant. Both these are a little cruder than on the official weights. The third shield, instead of being of three lions (leopards) passant as on the official and some unofficial weights (see PUBLIC-90E935 for more information), has a shield like the one on the present record. These two records say the arms are like a downward-facing arrow, but this is because the pales join together at the bottom, where they cannot be cast individually due to lack of space. The shield is probably used as being easier to cast than the one with three lions; other unofficial (Claas B weights) have coats of arms checky, barry, etc.This weight would thus belong to Class B in Brownsword and Pitt (1983, 85). Class B differentiates these non-official weights from the centrally produced better quality weights with the standard coats of arms, under the supervision of Richard of Cornwall till 1272 and then his son till 1300. The weights were banned in 1350.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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