Rights Holder: Sussex Archaeological Society
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BUTTON
Unique ID: SUSS-FFF5C0
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
A nearly complete gold object, perhaps a decorative button from a hat or dress, dating to the late medieval or early post-medieval period. It is formed in the shape of a delicate flower with recessed cells representing different segments of the flower. It has six large petals and a large circular centre with a centre-point and a small piece of coiled gold filigree (perhaps cannetille) around its circumference. In between each petal would have been a small sub-triangular piece of gold foil, probably representing foliage; only four of these remain, while the others have broken off. In the centre of each of the petals is another smaller cell, roughly in the form of a circle. The reverse face of the button is undecorated, but has a small gold wire loop soldered onto its centre. The construction of the loop at the centre suggests that it was used to attach a very small element, such as a pearl, at the front centre. The fitting is very delicate and would not have been used to fix pieces of cloth together, rather this was likely to have been a decorative element to a garment. The loop has been flattened against the reverse face.
Dimensions: Diameter 10.22mm, thickness 2.05mm, weight 0.34g.
Discussion: This gold dress fitting may be part of a set and used to sew onto and decorate an individual's clothing, or to sew onto a cap.
Notes:
Consequently, in terms of age and as the object contains a minimum of 10% precious metal it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.
Stephanie Smith, Finds Liaison Officer, Sussex
Dora Thornton, The British Museum
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Declared Treasure but returned to Finder as Museum unable to acquire
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2012T412
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1450
Date to: Circa AD 1650
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 2.05 mm
Weight: 0.34 g
Diameter: 10.22 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 2nd February 2012
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Treasure case number: 2012T412
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: West Sussex (County)
District: Horsham (District)
To be known as: Near Thakeham
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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