Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
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Unique ID: NMGW-EAE699
Object type certainty: Possibly
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A cast lead object, possibly a mount or weight in the form of a heraldic shield, of uncertain date although likely Medieval in date (c. 1350-1500)
The object is in the form of a heater escutcheon, decorated in cast relief quarterly: 1 and 4 a bend; 2 and 3 a fret. While no tinctures are visible, but the charges and findspot make it very likely to be the arms of the Despenser family. The object is slightly bent, with an undecorated concave reverse unusual to weights of this type, which tend towards having flat bases that overlap the decorated front. Three holes have been roughly pierced through the object, possibly by drilling. Two of identical diameter (3.5mm) are in the top corners of the shield while a slightly wider (4.8mm) perforation is central to the design. The object is relatively finely finished compared to many medieval weights.
The object weighs 93.93g, just slightly over 3 troy ounces, a system that began use in England sometime between the 1350s and 1370s AD. The damaged edges and corroded surface mean that when in use the object would have weighed somewhat more than 3 troy oz, which gives some doubt as to its use as a weight, although weight remains the best bet as to its intended use. The arms are likely those of the Despenser family, who held the lordship of Glamorgan from the seat of Cardiff castle from 1314–1326 under Edward II’s favourite Hugh le Despenser and then again from 1338 to 1423. Griffiths (FRG Datasheet 12, 1989) notes that heraldic shield mounts with and without perforations are known from tombs, effigies and other funeral monuments. This may explain the concave back of the object.
LIN-360646 is a weight recorded on the PAS database of more typical form, with identical heraldic design.
Length: 54.8mm
Width: 48.3mm
Thickness: 5.8mm
Weight: 93.93g
This is a find of note and has been designated: County / local importance
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1350
Date to: Circa AD 1500
Quantity: 1
Length: 54.8 mm
Width: 48.3 mm
Thickness: 5.8 mm
Weight: 93.93 g
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference: NMWPA 2021.57.8
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Heraldic
Completeness: Complete
4 Figure: ST0979
Four figure Latitude: 51.50258281
Four figure longitude: -3.31245204
1:25K map: ST0979
1:10K map: ST07NE
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.