The Scheme's logo
ESS-E58103: Copper-alloy terminal in the form of a duck or swan, probably a vessel handle of Roman date.

Rights Holder: Colchester Museums
CC License:

View Zoom Download

Image use policy

Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).

VESSEL

Unique ID: ESS-E58103

Object type certainty: Possibly
Workflow status: Awaiting validation Find awaiting validation

A copper-alloy incomplete terminal in the form of the neck and head of a bird, possibly a duck or swan. The terminal is curved in profile and has a sub-circular shaft with bevelled sidebends. The shaft flattens and flares into a beak which is rectangular in section and has slightly bevelled edges. No markings were identified on the surface. The original surface has a dark green patina and there is some pitting which is a lighter yellowy green. The break edge is not fresh but not worn, indicating recent past damage. It measures 19.42mm long along the beak, 8.88mm wide, is 3.26mm thick, the shaft has a diameter of 5.52g and it weighs 8.86g. This is likely to have been one terminal of a copper-alloy vessel handle, probably of Roman date. Similar terminals and vessel handles can be found on this database, Object IDs SF9646 and ESS2B77F7, plus Crummy. 1983. The Roman Small Finds from Excavations in Colchester 1971-9, page 71, figure 76, ref. 2035-2037.

Notes:

Part of the Abbott collection.

Class: Handle

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 19.42 mm
Width: 8.88 mm
Thickness: 3.26 mm
Weight: 8.86 g
Diameter: 5.52 mm

Personal details

This information is restricted for your access level.

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete

Spatial metadata

Region: Eastern (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Essex (County)
District: Chelmsford (District)
Parish or ward: Roxwell (Civil Parish)

References cited

Author Publication Year Title Publication Place Publisher Pages Reference
Crummy, N. 1983 Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds from excavations in Colchester, 1971-9 Colchester Colchester Archaeological Trust Ltd 71; figure:76 2035-2037

Similar objects

Find number: SF-DCE562
Object type: VESSEL
Broadperiod: ROMAN
An incomplete cast copper-alloy zoomorphic vessel handle of Roman date. The object is in the form of a bird's neck and head, the elongated ne…
Workflow: Awaiting validationFind awaiting validation

Find number: IOW-6B5068
Object type: VESSEL
Broadperiod: ROMAN
A Roman cast copper-alloy vessel handle fragment (AD 43-100). This terminal is sub-oval in cross-section and is the shape of a bird's head,…
Workflow: Awaiting validationFind awaiting validation

Find number: SF-7250E4
Object type: VESSEL
Broadperiod: ROMAN
A copper-alloy fragment of a Roman possible vessel handle, dating to AD 43-250. It takes the form of a bird's head, possibly a swan. The brea…
Workflow: Awaiting validationFind awaiting validation

Audit data

Recording Institution: ESS
Created: 17 years ago
Updated: 13 years ago

Other formats: this page is available as qrcode json xml geojson pdf rdf representations.