PIPE TAMPER

An incomplete copper-alloy pipe tamper of the post-medieval period, dating to AD 1700 - AD 1800.

Less than 50% of the pipe tamper or stopper is present, consisting of the upper torsos of both individuals. A patinated break is present at the waist of the two figures.

The tamper depicts an erotic scene. The scene would have originally consisted of a standing couple, probably engaged in sexual intercourse. The two figures are positioned facing each other. The Male (larger) figure is standing upright, with his arms around the waist of the Female (slightly smaller) figure. The female has her legs bent and is leaning into the male figure, she appears to be partially seated, her arms are equally around the waist of the Male. The Male's arms are cast over the top of the Female's.

It measures 19.9 mm in length, 16.9 mm wide and 5.8 mm thick. It weighs 6.7 g.

The tamper is a mid brown in colour with pateches of green, it has an uneven surface patina. Abrasion caused by movement whilst in the plough soil may have resulted in the loss of some of the original surface detail.

Bawdy scenes were important features of eighteenth-century popular art, literature, and material culture, and it is this tradition into which these tampers fit. A closely dated, complete parallel comes from the wreck of the Colossus, which sank in 1798. Similar examples recorded on this database, including LANCUM-F58134, BERK-1E0625 and LVPL-F8F6F4.