Rights Holder: Bristol City Council
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Unique ID: GLO-49BC94
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
A small medieval silver-gilt annular brooch that has a construction for the pin. The pin is retained but is truncated halfway down its shaft. Both sides of the frame have been inscribed on both sides, reading on the top side 'A M I : A M E S[?] A M I E : A V E'. possibly referencing to a friend, whilst on the reverse is the inscription CRAS DABOR NON ODIE which translates as ‘I will be given tomorrow not today’.
The inscription CRAS DABOR NON ODIE is seen on a similar copper alloy annular brooch and recorded at SUR-690FCC. Here Dr Malcom Jones has commented that the phrase was proverbially used -- of bad payers, for example -- and in one gloss on "corvus" in the Physiologus, is given to the crow as an elaborated version of his usual "cras cras". In the DABO version as here, it 'ought' to mean "Tomorrow I will give [?it ?this] not today" -- but quite what is to be given -- I'm assuming we are in an amatory context -- is open to debate!
The recorded is grateful to Dr Malcom Jones for his help on this particular brooch.
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The find therefore qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996 in terms of both age and precious metal content and should go forward to inquest.
Class: annular
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Treasure case tracking number: 2008T649
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: AD 1300
Date to: AD 1400
Quantity: 1
Diameter: 16 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 12th April 2008
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SMR reference number: 48457
Other reference: 2008 T649
Treasure case number: 2008T649
Primary material: Silver
Manufacture method: Milled
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Gilded
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.