Rights Holder: Lincolnshire County Council
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Unique ID: LIN-682618
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A lead object in the form of a three-dimensional chicken, probably used as a cockshy. The object dates circa 1700-1800.
The object is formed of a convex oval piece of lead, with a tall crest running down the middle. The convex surface is decorated with a close network of criss-crossed lines. A moulded pellet is located in each cell. This patterning probably represents scales. A large pellet in ring representing the eyes is located either side at one end. The sides of the crest are decorated on both sides. The decoration comprises a band of hatching along the base, with three bands of overlapping semi-circles. Above this are eight rearward 'fins'. Moulded diagonal lines decorate the final 'fin' area. The underside is undecorated and shows no signs of attachment.
Shy-cocks may have derived from the Shrove Tuesday pursuit of casting stones or cudgels at a live cockerel which was either tied down or buried up to its neck in the ground (Forsyth and Egan 2005: 239).
REFERENCE
Forsyth, H. and Egan, G. 2005. Toys, Trifles and Trinkets. Base Metal Miniatures from London 1200 to 1800. Unicorn Press: London.
Class: Cockshy
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: MODERN
Date from: Circa AD 1700
Date to: Circa AD 1800
Quantity: 1
Length: 37 mm
Width: 31 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 1st October 2011
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Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
4 Figure: TF0534
Four figure Latitude: 52.89320579
Four figure longitude: -0.44070018
1:25K map: TF0534
1:10K map: TF03SE
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.