HINGE

A cast copper-alloy hinged plate of medieval or post-medieval date. The artefact is formed of two elements of similar proportions. One, that which terminates in a fleur-de-lys, has a central notch at the hinge end; on either side the rest of the end is curved round an axis bar. The other element is recessed at the hinge end and its central element hinges around the bar in gap between the protrusions of the element with the fleur-de-lys terminal. The bar is made of iron judging by the brown-orange corrosion product at one of its ends. From the hinged end both elements are formed in the same way: with a removal creating a shallow arc on both edges. Above this are removals into the edges of a form slightly greater than a semicircle. On the element with the fleur-de-lys terminal they are slightly shorter. On this latter element the metal has been slightly narrowed above the recesses and a fleur-de-lys delineated above with an angular, sub-lozengiform central petal. Similar lateral 'prongs' have been left above the recesses on the other element; the section above comes to a waist on both sides just above, and has had its corners rounded off at the terminal. There is a large circular perforation towards this end, in an area equivalent to the large petal on the other element. Both elements retain rivets: that with the fleur-de-lys terminal through the large petal and two in the section above the hinge. The other element has a single rivet above the hinge; the large perforation described could have been used for attachment. The object has become slightly bent and corroded. The function of this hinged plate is uncertain: it could have been a furniture fitting or a box fitting. A wide date range is duly offered. 14th-century hinged plates which would have acted as strap fittings are documented (Egan and Pritchard 1991, 225, 227; ref. 1217; Margeson 1993, 36-37; ref. 243). A lobed object of similar form described as a 'belt-mount' was found in a 15th-century context in Norwich (Margeson 1993, 40-41; ref. 271).