Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: SOMDOR-D9DEE2
Object type certainty: Possibly
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A possible Anglo-Saxon 'Pressblech' die, used for making foil mounts. The die has been cast from copper alloy and the style of the decoration is 8th century. The crude shape of the metal, which closely follows the shape of the design, suggests that the impressed decoration was the most important aspect of the object, and that it was not for show itself. The reverse is rough, flat and undecorated. The die is sub-trapezoidal in shape, with a triangular knotwork design in the centre of the upper side. The design is in very shallow relief indicating that it could only have been impressed onto a fairly thin foil. The 'Pressblech' method involves placing a thin sheet of gold, silver or copper alloy onto the die, covering it with a leather pad and striking the top of the pad to produce an impression. The thin decorative plaques produced have been found on Anglo-Saxon sleeve clasps, brooches and helmets (Leahy 2003: 157).
Class: Pressblech
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 700
Date to: Circa AD 799
Quantity: 1
Length: 27.81 mm
Width: 22.87 mm
Thickness: 22.33 mm
Weight: 4.77 g
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 23rd June 2004
This information is restricted for your access level.
4 Figure: ST3513
Four figure Latitude: 50.912789
Four figure longitude: -2.925947
1:25K map: ST3513
1:10K map: ST31SE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leahy, K. | 2003 | Anglo-Saxon Crafts | Stroud | Tempus | 157 |