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BEAD
Unique ID: LEIC-1768B3
Object type certainty: Probably
Workflow
status: Published 
Early Medieval gold flattened bead or suspension loop from a pendant. The object consists of an incomplete sub rectangular gold sheet with applied wire decoration. An outside border is made from two twisted unbeaded wires and there is a pair of similar two-ply twisted wires arranged to form a plait-like motif across what may originally have been the centre of the bead or loop. Either side of the possible central plait are two joined spirals forming an S shape, again made of unbeaded applied gold wire; and to one side of one of the S-shapes is the possible traces of a further two-ply twisted rope border running at right angles to the others. The decorated part of the object has a distinct semi-circular section along part of its length which suggests it may have been a cylindrical bead with a line of twisted wire down the edges and across the bottom, a double line in the centre, and S-shaped scrolls to either side. Alternatively, it may have been a suspension loop from a pendant, although it is perhaps rather large for this.
Biconical gold beads of the 7th century are usually made from wound wire soldered to a sheet base. Other examples of beads with filigree motifs on a sheet gold backplate include LIN-18EEC1 (2011T691). Five of the cabochon garnet pendants from the late 7th-century Desborough necklace have suspension loops decorated with filigree motifs (Webster and Backhouse (eds) 1991, no. 13).
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Melton Carnegie Museum Melton Mowbray
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2009T419
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Anglo-Saxon style
Date from: AD 600
Date to: AD 720
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 18 mm
Width: 16 mm
Thickness: 1 mm
Weight: 1.67 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 3rd August 2009
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: EN9927
Treasure case number: 2009T419
Museum accession number: X.A134.2010
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: East Midlands (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Leicestershire (County)
District: Melton (District)
To be known as: nr Melton
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webster, L. and Backhouse, J. | 1991 | The Making of England: Anglo-Saxon Art and Culture AD 600-900 | London | British Museum Press |
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Timeline of associated dates
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