VESSEL

A copper-alloy tankard handle dating to the late Iron Age or Roman period, circa 50 BC to 200 AD.

The handle is openwork, arched and comprises three large loops. The central loop is circular in plan and oval in cross-section with the wider side aligned to the front of the handle. To either side of the central loop separating from the adjacent loops is a moulded sub-oval rib. The adjacent loops are tear-drop shaped in plan (oval with one pointed end), and circular in cross-section. These two loops are slightly smaller in diameter than the central one. Just beyond the point of the oval on both adjacent loops is a narrow pointed oval moulding. This moulding is D-shaped in cross-section. The moulding bifurcates into a narrow bar with slightly flared terminals. The bar is rectangular in plan, plano-convex in cross-section and pierced at either end. Three terminals are broken across the rivet hole. The remaining terminal is complete and contains a copper alloy rivet.

The handle has a mid-green patina but displays a differing state of preservation across the surface. One half of the handle (as seen longitudinally) has a smooth almost glossy patina, whereas the other side is highly pitted containing extensive patches of corrosion.

Dimensions: 69mm in length, 23mm in width and 4mm in thickness. The arch of the handle measures 33mm. The central loop measures 24mm diameter, frame 4mm x 3mm. The two pointed oval loops measure 21mm x 26mm, frame 3mm x 3mm. The terminals measure 25mm length and 26mm length respectively, with a frame measuring 4mm x 4mm, flaring to 6mm x 4mm at the riveted end.

The use of loops to form cast handles is a feature often seen on mirrors of the late first century BC and early first century AD, such as that on the mirror from Holcombe, Devon (Megaw and Megaw 2001, p. 211 and fig. 353), and also the mirror from Desborough, Northamptonshire (ibid., p. 222 and plate XXI). As such this particular type of handle is often referred to as 'mirror' type (Corcoran 1952, p.98), which may imply that it belongs to the late first centuries BC/AD . The handle is similar to others illustrated in Jope 2000: Plate 227, from Bulbury, Dorset and Porth Dafarch, Holyhead, Anglesey.