BH-DEC173: Medieval button

Rights Holder: St. Albans District Council
CC License:


Image use policy

Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).

BUTTON

Unique ID: BH-DEC173

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation Find awaiting validation

A cast lead-alloy button, probably dating from the Late Medieval period.

The upper surface of the plano-convex head of the button is decorated in high relief. A boss marks the centre of the head; this is surrounded by six smaller, equally-spaced bosses. The spaces between the bosses are occupied by a lower pattern of ridges and pellets. An integral loop extends from the centre point of the head's flat underside. A small portion of the button has been lost.

Dimensions: 26mm diameter, 14.2mm deep (front of head to back of loop). Weight: 9.93g.

Similar cast buttons are illustrated and discussed by Bailey (2004: 17-21), who suggests a 13th to 15th century date. The recorder, however, knows of no parallels from securely dated archaeological contexts.

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1500

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 14.2 mm
Weight: 9.93 g
Diameter: 26 mm

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 1st March 2012

Personal details

This information is restricted for your access level.

Other reference numbers

Other reference: Ver 12/38 - 9

Materials and construction

Primary material: Lead Alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete

Spatial metadata

Region: Eastern (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Hertfordshire (County)
District: St. Albans (District)
To be known as: Redbourn

Spatial coordinates


Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Cultivated land
Specific landuse: Character undetermined

References cited

Author Publication Year Title Publication Place Publisher Pages Reference
Bailey, G. 2004 Buttons and Fasteners 500BC - AD1840 Essex Greenlight Publishing

Similar objects

Find number: SOM-267502
Object type: BUTTON
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
An incomplete cast copper alloy button of probable post-medieval date. The plano-convex circular button measures 15.1mm in diameter by 9.1mm t…
Workflow: Awaiting validationFind awaiting validation

Find number: BH-218F67
Object type: BUTTON
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A lead button of suggested 15th to 16th century AD date (G. Bailey, 1997, p. 38). The object has been cast and has a circular head. The und…
Workflow: Awaiting validationFind awaiting validation

Find number: NMS-E23591
Object type: BUTTON
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
Post-medieval copper alloy button comprising a plano-convex head and an incomplete embedded loop. The whole of the front is occupied by a cen…
Workflow: Awaiting validationFind awaiting validation

Timeline of associated dates

Audit data

Recording Institution: BH
Created: 12 years ago
Updated: 12 years ago

Other formats: this page is available as qrcode json xml geojson pdf rdf representations.