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BOOK FITTING
Unique ID: ESS-608C92
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
Medieval (1300-1500AD) incomplete cast copper alloy composite book clasp of Howsam type A.2, comprising a forked spacer, integrally cast terminal and separate copper alloy plates. The forked spacer is complete. The terminal is semi-circular with a central circular hole, and has a further rectangular projection at its tip which is perpendicular to the main body. This projection is in the shape of a highly stylised animal head, with a bifurcated terminal representing open jaws; it has a central circular perforation running from side to side. One of the two separate sheet copper alloy plates survives intact, held in place by a central separate copper alloy rivet. There is a further rivet hole towards the straight attachment end, but this is now missing. Only a small area of the other copper alloy sheet survives, around the rivet. It is 33.06mm long, 11.51mm wide tapering to 8.18mm wide, is 4.17mm thick and weighs 3.91g.
Similar examples from London come from contexts of the late 14th and early 15th centuries, which is consistent with dates for other artefacts with forked spacers.
Class:
clasp
Sub class: Howsam type A.2
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1350
Date to: Circa AD 1450
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 33.06 mm
Weight: 3.91 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 14th October 2009
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: CHMER 5447
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Essex (County)
District: Epping Forest (District)
Parish or ward: Magdalen Laver (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TL5007
Four figure Latitude: 51.741632
Four figure longitude: 0.17115
1:25K map: TL5007
1:10K map: TL50NW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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