Rights Holder: Derby Museums Trust
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Unique ID: DENO-A6F167
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
Copper-alloy catch-piece from an early Anglo-Saxon copper-alloy wrist clasp of Hines form B12, of late 5th- or 6th-century date. The clasp consists of a broad rectangular bar with a rectangular loop (the catch) extending from the centre of one edge. This loop would have received the hook from the corresponding hook-piece, in order to fasten the garment to which the clasps were attached. The other edge of the bar (the rear edge) has a semi-circular pierced loop projecting at one end and the remains of what would presumably have been a similar loop at the other end. These loops, with circular perforations, would be the stitching holes for fixing the clasp to the garment.
There is also a decorative flat lobe extending from the centre of the rear edge, opposite the catch. This has a semi-circular base, a waist and a semi-circular upper part; it resembles a mushroom seen in side view.
The only other extant decoration is in the form of a raised rectangular moulding in the centre of the bar and similar, though less prominent, mouldings at either end of the plate. The whole has a thick, tactile, grey-green patina over its surface. Length 33.2mm, width 21.8mm, thickness 2.3mm, weight 5.08g.
Compare the wrist clasps in MacGregor and Bolick 1991, 175-182, especially the set no. 29.31, which are of a similar shape.
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Class: Hines form B12
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 475
Date to: Circa AD 575
Quantity: 1
Length: 33.2 mm
Width: 21.8 mm
Thickness: 2.3 mm
Weight: 5.08 g
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 12th February 2008
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Other reference: DERBY E6045
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MacGregor, A. and Bolick, E. | 1993 | A summary catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon collections (non-ferrous metals), Ashmolean Museum, Oxford | Oxford | Tempvs Reparatum | pages 175-182 | artefacts 29.31 |