WMID-D25D17: Early post-medieval copper-alloy purse frame

Rights Holder: Birmingham Museums Trust
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PURSE

Unique ID: WMID-D25D17

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation Find awaiting validation

A cast copper-alloy purse frame of post-medieval, 16th century date, classified as Williams Class G. The frame is made up of two components. A rectangular suspension loop which is attached to a horizontal bar via a waisted lug which protrudes through a circular hole in the bar. Below the rectangular loop there is a moulded triple collar. The horizontal bar is symmetrical, each arm being waisted and terminating in a knop, waisted for attachment of the purse strings. There is a moulded collar to each side of the central perforation. On the underside of the bar there is a further integrally cast bar.

The purse bar measures 59.22 mm in length and 35.9 mm high, from the bottom of the lower horizontal bar to the top of the suspension loop. It weighs 24 grams.

It is similar, though not identical, to an example illustrated in the London Museum Medieval Catalogue (Reference A2463, Plate 37, page 169), and is certainly of type B, a style that emerged in the 16th century. It has been published by Williams (2018, 7; fig. 18) as his Class G. The frame is in good condition and has a green patina.

Class: bar and loop
Sub class: Williams class G

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1500
Date to: Circa AD 1600

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 59.22 mm
Height: 35.9 mm
Weight: 24 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 16th March 2011

Personal details

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Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete

Spatial metadata

Region: West Midlands (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Staffordshire (County)
District: Lichfield (District)
Parish or ward: Drayton Bassett (Civil Parish)

Spatial coordinates

4 Figure: SP1899
Four figure Latitude: 52.588508
Four figure longitude: -1.735745
1:25K map: SP1899
1:10K map: SP19NE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Cultivated land
Specific landuse: Character undetermined

References cited

Author Publication Year Title Publication Place Publisher Pages Reference
Williams, D. 2018 Copper-alloy Purse Components: a new classification using finds from England and Wales recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme London Finds Research Group 7 18

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Timeline of associated dates

Audit data

Recording Institution: WMID
Created: 12 years ago
Updated: 5 years ago

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