Naomi Payne wrote @ 19:42:41 @ 11th April 2012.

This looks more like a very worn and incomplete vessel leg, rather than a handle.

Comment entered on record: IOW-438555
Object type: Vessel
Broad Period: Medieval
County of origin: Isle Of Wight

Naomi Payne wrote @ 18:36:03 @ 11th April 2012.

This is likely to be a product of John Palmar. Several complete handles from this maker are illustrated in Butler and Green's 'English Bronze Cooking Vessels' (2003, pp. 80-84). The lettering, including the barred 'A' and the long, slightly curving tail of the 'R', is similar to this example. Documentary evidence shows that John Palmar had a foundry in Canterbury during the 1630s.

Comment entered on record: SUSS-3EE991
Object type: Vessel
Broad Period: Post medieval
County of origin: East Sussex

Graham Hill wrote @ 21:16:38 @ 10th April 2012.

From the excellent photos; at least 3 major flake scars appear to have origins not on a platform; looking at the ripples and central prominences. Perhaps natural thermal effects on a broken nodule then the recent damage on the produced sharp edge with differently deeply stained flake scars on the wedge sides as they are added in different episodes?

Comment entered on record: WAW-EC5E20
Object type: Chopper
Broad Period: Palaeolithic
County of origin: Shropshire

Robert Webley wrote @ 10:57:20 @ 10th April 2012.

This would appear to be a very rare reverse of Hans Krauwinckel II - another has just been recorded on this database, ref. HAMP-3FBE52

Comment entered on record: WMID363
Object type: Jetton
Broad Period:
County of origin: Warwickshire

StuE wrote @ 17:20:55 @ 7th April 2012.

Maybe a pine cone and stylised A from Augsburg cloth seal :- http://www.bagseals.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1527 See Nos.308 - 310 Fig.41, Geoff Egan, 'Lead cloth seals and related items in the B.M. (B.M. Occasional Paper 93)'

Comment entered on record: NMS-14D047
Object type: Cloth seal
Broad Period: Post medieval
County of origin: Norfolk

Mike Bishop wrote @ 09:55:24 @ 27th March 2012.

There are two very good reasons why this should not be identified as a lorica segmentata fitting. First it is cast, and such fittings were always made of sheet metal, usually doubled over. The only cast examples I have ever seen have been fakes. Second it has an iron rivet. Lorica segmentata fittings were attached to their parent ferrous sheets using copper-alloy rivets, usually of a slightly softer composition (ie higher copper content) than the fitting themselves. These would at their best be small domed rivets when new, at their worst crude irregular-headed tacks when a repair, but never made of iron. The two larger holes with concentric rings admittedly resemble a lorica segmentata fitting, but the additional holes and the fact that it is cast rule out this identification.

Comment entered on record: SF-DAC052
Object type: Armour
Broad Period: Roman
County of origin: Suffolk

Rodney Scarle wrote @ 15:06:25 @ 14th March 2012.

Looks like a "solar flower" type that has been attributed to Addedomaros. Spink S206

Comment entered on record: BH-9AEAC5
Object type: Coin
Broad Period: Iron age
County of origin: Cambridgeshire

Frances McIntosh wrote @ 15:01:08 @ 13th March 2012.

Hi Rebecca Just to let you know this is not a Wirral brooch, I have amended the record but for future ones, note the Wirral brooch has a smaller head, 3 panels of enamel, no acanthus moulding and a very different headloop. There are lots on the database to check against thanks Frances

Comment entered on record: LEIC-5F4EE1
Object type: Brooch
Broad Period: Roman
County of origin: Leicestershire

Ros wrote @ 11:15:08 @ 13th March 2012.

Shouldn't this object name be buckle as thats what its part of?

Comment entered on record: NMS-613076
Object type: Buckle
Broad Period: Post medieval
County of origin: Norfolk

Ros wrote @ 10:58:19 @ 13th March 2012.

Wouldn't Hook be a better name for this object? Fastening implies dress accessory whereas its more tool related. We only found it in a shear-board hook search on google rather than in our db!

Comment entered on record: NMS-B8C354
Object type: Hook
Broad Period: Medieval
County of origin: Norfolk

Ros wrote @ 10:54:44 @ 13th March 2012.

Wouldn't Hook be a better object name than needle! In searching for shear-board hooks it only came up in google images not in our db search!

Comment entered on record: LIN-E41854
Object type: Hook
Broad Period: Medieval
County of origin: Lincolnshire

Simon wrote @ 16:42:35 @ 8th March 2012.

Doubtful that this mortaria was ever made at Nene valley. The Dr45 or Form45 mortaria. From what I can see it has been well worn and due to this could be east gaul due to the colour of the slip

Comment entered on record: BH-A08826
Object type: Mortarium
Broad Period: Roman
County of origin: Central Bedfordshire

Glen Gunther wrote @ 00:50:00 @ 24th February 2012.

I found one also in Piscataway, NJ USA while metal detecting a Revolutionary War site. Mine is larger weighing in at 11g. I wish I could find out exactly what it is and what it was used for. I thought it was a hand made ring. The "spars" as I call them would prevent it from spinning on your finger. However, like the one on your web site, the spars are not equal distance from the "oval" portion on the top. they must have been made that way intentionaly.

Comment entered on record: HESH-3B64C2
Object type: Unidentified object
Broad Period: Post medieval
County of origin: Shropshire

Robert MacPherson wrote @ 21:14:48 @ 21st February 2012.

This is a hooked clothing fastener. It had formerly had a cast-in wire hook, which has oxidized away.

Comment entered on record: ESS-D2BE17
Object type: Mount
Broad Period: Post medieval
County of origin: Essex

Paul Cannon wrote @ 19:30:50 @ 21st February 2012.

For an alnage seal with three feathers (plumes) within a coronet see http://www.bagseals.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=2985 . For others on the PAS database see NMS-F2EF65 (a Taunton cloth seal of (16)80); SUR-2CE302 & LON-D19EA7 (both are alnage seals also with portraits of George I). See also Geoff Egan, Lead Cloth Seals and Related Items in the British Museum Museum (1994); fig 28 no. 165 & p69. Note: The Prince of Wales bears also another distinguished mark of honour, viz. a plume of three white ostrich feathers, issuing through the rim of the royal coronet with the motto Ich dien on a scroll entwined at the bottom of the feathers.

Comment entered on record: NARC-381F55
Object type: Cloth seal
Broad Period: Post medieval
County of origin: Northamptonshire

David Burton wrote @ 14:35:26 @ 21st February 2012.

The fragment can probably be associated with William Paget of the Mitre tavern, Fleet Street (1658-1660) or William Proctor of the Mitre tavern in Wood Street (1635-1665). It is more likely to relate to William Proctor given that there is a trade token issued by him. The Museum of London holds complete bottles in its collection which can be dated c. 1650-1660. David Burton

Comment entered on record: SUR-6EA2A4
Object type: Bottle
Broad Period: Post medieval
County of origin: Wokingham

Loyd Wix wrote @ 15:48:29 @ 17th February 2012.

A reproduction has been made of this object. Whilst this work was being conducted some further observations were made. The hollow section of the stem contained debris which once removed revealed the presence of a pin presumable to help with location. The pin is approximately circular in profile and about 1.5mm in diameter. The pin appears to have been located in place by means of a punch that has left a contact impression. This further detail suggests that this was probably a state of the art security system for the later Roman period.

Comment entered on record: BH-481E66
Object type: Key (locking)
Broad Period: Roman
County of origin: Bedford

david harpin wrote @ 14:40:52 @ 16th February 2012.

The heraldry on this stud certainly represents the de Bohun family, Earls of Essex and Hereford, see Ashley page 39. This stud is most likely to have been on a leather fitting. Studs are also used on stirrups but the shanks are then flattened to make a permanent fixing at the back of iron plate.

Comment entered on record: NARC-91C808
Object type: Harness mount
Broad Period: Medieval
County of origin: Cambridgeshire

chris lovell wrote @ 11:47:04 @ 15th February 2012.

I have seen these objects before the are poorly made crude light weight they are not coins proberly give away items of modern date i beleive readers digest gave similiar items with some of there prize draws i could be wrong thou but am certain as not coins.

Comment entered on record: LON-BD4FD0
Object type: Token
Broad Period: Post medieval
County of origin: Greater London Authority

Paul Cannon wrote @ 22:07:37 @ 12th February 2012.

In my opinion this is neither a token, nor a coin but is a decorative item which was sewn onto the clothes of women or worn suspended around the neck. The language on the piece is very crudely executed Arabic but is based on an Ottoman coin of the 19th century. For an example of how these could have been worn see http://www.pbase.com/kabacom/image/132762351 . Every available edge of her clothing has "coins" sewn onto them. Displaying wealth in this way has been a custom amongst societies across the Middle East and beyond but also with traditional groups within Europe, especially at weddings, for centuries. For those who could afford it real pierced gold and silver coins were used. Poorer women used low value coins or specially made pieces like this object. All the pieces, whether real coins or not, had another function of looking bright and sparkly and jangling when the person moved or danced. They are usually referred to as 'jewelery pieces' but in the Turkish language are known as 'penez, penz or zirnik'. However they can be found described as coins; tokens; jetons or pendants; counterfeit coins; fakes; fantasy pieces or bijouterie. What I believe is one of the largest collections where images are available on line are those in the Fitzwilliam Museum. See http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/opac/search/cataloguesummary.html?_limit_=10&_function_=xslt&_resultstylesheet_=imagecs&_searchstring_=OC="Jetons and jewelry pieces" and AG='Coins and Medals' The design on LON-BD4FD0 has been stamped onto one face of a thin copper alloy/brass/base metal disk. The design on the back face is thus the reverse of the one on the front. For a very similar base metal piece which has not suffered from being many years in the ground see http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/opac/search/cataloguedetail.html?&priref=104548&_function_=xslt&_limit_=10 . Many of the pieces with this function were struck on both sides and were clearly made to look like real coins. What is common to most of them is that the Arabic becomes poorer and poorer to the point where it is unreadable and can only be described as pseudo-Arabic. Another feature is of course that they are virtually all pierced sometimes many times.

Comment entered on record: LON-BD4FD0
Object type: Token
Broad Period: Post medieval
County of origin: Greater London Authority

Robert MacPherson wrote @ 19:11:30 @ 8th February 2012.

I feel sure that this is really the end of a belt chape of the sort that goes with a "lyre shaped" buckle. The socket, which has broken off, would have been on the lower end.

Comment entered on record: NLM-33A234
Object type: Strap end
Broad Period: Medieval
County of origin: Nottinghamshire

Mark Schollar wrote @ 16:54:13 @ 8th February 2012.

I may be wrong but to me this looks more like a Base Silver Antononinianus of Salonia?

Comment entered on record: NARC-256424
Object type: Coin
Broad Period: Roman
County of origin: Northamptonshire

Paul Cannon wrote @ 23:48:56 @ 7th February 2012.

My suggestion is that this seal and three others apparently identical or very similar on the PAS database are probably Johnnie Walker whisky seals. Each of them has a full coat of arms, the same on both sides. The distinctive feature of the arms are the squirrel supporters. Even on the poorly preserved examples in the database the bushy upright tails are obvious on all of them. I believe that the arms are those of the town of Kilmarnock in Scotland: see for example http://www.kilmarnock.org.uk/kilmarnock.html. The crest, above the shield is also distinctive, consisting of a hand with the third and fourth fingers folded down. Even on the small scale of the lead seals the crest there can be identified as such a hand. The motto associated with the arms appears on ‘ribbons’ above and below. This is also a feature on the seals. A feature on the arms of the seals, not present on the town arms are the letters ‘W & S’ across the shield itself. This is most clearly seen in KENT-561BA6. It is this which links the seals to the famous whisky manufacturer. See http://futuremuseum.co.uk/images/cache/Img6198S1000.jpg; and http://futuremuseum.co.uk/images/cache/Img8743S1000.jpg. Both these are objects in the collections of museums in Kilmarnock and clearly show the amended arms being used by the company as part of its branding. In the timeline on the official Johnnie Walker website http://www.johnniewalker.com/global/timeline/ under the year 1906 is another example. The letters probably stand for Walker & Sons. The history of the firm goes back to the early part of the 19th century in the town of Kilmarnock. The firm were associated with the town and the manufacture of whisky there until 2011 when I believe the factory was finally closed. I wonder if the seals were attached to an individual bottle of whisky, perhaps to indicate its quality or to show that the cork had not been tampered with. Alternatively it may have been attached to a crate or other container of whisky bottles. If my identification is correct I would suggest that these seals probably date to the first half of the 20th century and not the earlier dates currently suggested for them. The four seals are KENT-561BA6; LON-311872; NLM-802EF4 & LIN-4CA218. The last of these is currently described as a token. This is not the only example where high value alcoholic drinks have lead sealings associated with them. The Bagseals gallery [ http://www.bagseals.org/gallery/main.php ] has images of no less than eight for champagne (refs. 108-115) and one for calvados, a French apple brandy (ref. 78).

Comment entered on record: KENT-561BA6
Object type: Seal
Broad Period: Modern
County of origin: Kent

Paul Cannon wrote @ 22:33:37 @ 5th February 2012.

I believe this is not a token but is a low value copper coin. It is a duit of West Frisia in the Netherlands. The arms depicted (two lions passant, crowned) are the arms of the region.

Comment entered on record: SWYOR-E5B046
Object type: Coin
Broad Period: Post medieval
County of origin: Wakefield

Jim Belk wrote @ 17:16:10 @ 2nd February 2012.

I suggest that this irregular coin with no quoted coin reference may be Sear, volume 3, number 11232. If so it would have a reference RIC 56, 59 and been minted in Cologne AD 272.

Comment entered on record: PUBLIC-ABFC04
Object type: Coin
Broad Period: Roman
County of origin: Wiltshire

Martin Foreman wrote @ 08:52:57 @ 2nd February 2012.

Laura Burnett kindly notes the date of this object to be earlier than the initial report suggests, being of late medieval rather than early post-medieval date. She cites PAS records NMS-F6CE74 and HAMP-FD7C24 of medieval date (c. 1400 – c. 1450 AD; Geake 2001, 32).

Comment entered on record: NLM-FE9AC4
Object type: Strap end
Broad Period: Medieval
County of origin: North Lincolnshire

Stephanie Smith wrote @ 16:08:48 @ 1st February 2012.

Hi Becky! I think this is actually a phallic military pendant -- Take a look at Appels and Laycock's purple book on Roman military fittings. You're right that it is a similar shape though. But the decoration and shape matches exactly one of their examples and I've had a few complete ones in. Let me know what you decide! xx Steph

Comment entered on record: YORYM-E41931
Object type: Harness pendant
Broad Period: Roman
County of origin: East Riding Of Yorkshire

Dot Boughton wrote @ 11:34:11 @ 1st February 2012.

Hi Alex - sorry, we've never been introduced - I am Stuart's last-part-of-the-week-half Dot! Just saw this find of yours and I don't think it's a horse-harness pendant. I think it's a Roman umbonate brooch. There are several on the database - have a look! I hope you don't mind me contacting you this way (I haven't got your email address!). Dot

Comment entered on record: LANCUM-9201C5
Object type: Brooch
Broad Period: Roman
County of origin: North Yorkshire

Jane Kershaw wrote @ 10:39:54 @ 1st February 2012.

This record seems to be a duplicate of NMS-23FFF2?

Comment entered on record: SF-DACA35
Object type: Ingot
Broad Period: Early medieval
County of origin: Norfolk

Paul Cannon wrote @ 21:14:03 @ 31st January 2012.

Having looked more closely at the reverse of this coin weight I believe the image is upside down. The indistinct image in the centre appears to be an upright hand identifying it as being from Antwerp. As the original identifier has stated the letters around this appear to be RI with a V below. This is an unidentified maker. Another coin weight with a hand and the same letters is on the database SF-056341.

Comment entered on record: NLM-AADDA4
Object type: Token
Broad Period: Post medieval
County of origin: Lincolnshire