Rights Holder: Buckinghamshire County Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
INKWELL
Unique ID: BUC-3803B7
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A medieval, hollow cast lead alloy container, possibly for ink. The body of the vessel is rectangular, broadening at the base and open at the top. There are two lug handles, just below the opening. These appear to be loops but are solid or were intended to be perforated by the owner who did not do this. Two of the faces have raised decoration between the 'loops' consisting of an uneven zigzag, bordered by two lines . Below this on one side is a privy mark consisting of cross above a circle and on the other is a cross ending in a reversed V-shape and with a line across the main vertical. There is damage to the rim and the base of the object.
A similar container, with different privy marks, was found in Salisbury and tentatively dated to the early to mid 15th century (Egan in Saunders (ed) 2001, Salisbury Medieval Catalogue Pt 3, p. 99 fig. 34, cat no. 83).
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Retained by finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1400
Date to: Circa AD 1470
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 81 mm
Width: 25 mm
Thickness: 1.5 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 15th April 2007
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Buckinghamshire (County)
District: Aylesbury Vale (District)
To be known as: Brill
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saunders, P. | 2001 | Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 3 | Salisbury | Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum | 99, fig3 4, Cat 83 |
Similar objects
Find number: LIN-98F38A
Object type: INKWELL
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A medieval lead inkwell or ampulla. The body is rectangular in plan and also in section, and has an integral triangular loop on both sides ne…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: LON-9D559C
Object type: VESSEL
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A late Medieval to Post Medieval lead alloy vessel dating to the 15th -16th century. The vessel is cylindrical, with opposing lug handles and…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: HESH-2F1D02
Object type: INKWELL
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A Lead or lead alloy inkwell of probable post medieval date (1600-1800).
The inkwell is broadly sub-circular in both plan. In the centre o…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618