Rights Holder: Suffolk County Council
CC License:
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Unique ID: SF-4C48C3
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
A cast copper-alloy hinged book clasp of Howsam A.1.3, later Medieval in date. It has a flat, D-shaped plate with central circular aperture. At the outer edge of the plate is an integrally cast projecting terminal in the form of an animal's head with open mouth and transverse circular aperture. The opposite edge of the plate has three projections drilled to hold a separately cast copper-alloy bar, two equally spaced rectangular notches enabling a separate plate to hinge around the bar. In one notch the remains of this separate copper-alloy plate are visible, the precise form uncertain due to old breaks. On the front of the plate is moulded decoration comprising a grooved border that contains a foliate motif radiating from the hinge end and with seven projecting branches. Traces of gilding are visible in places and the reverse is flat and undecorated. The entire object measures 25.68mm in length, 12.75mm in width at plate, 2.23mm in thickness at plate (4.56mm at terminal), and 3.28g in weight.
This book clasp is similar to examples published from London dating to the 14th or 15th centuries AD (Egan, 1998: nos. 919-924), although it differs slightly in form. The foliate motif perhaps hints at a slightly later date, into the early Post-Medieval period.
Class:
clasp
Sub class: Howsam type A.1.3
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1400
Date to: Circa AD 1600
Quantity: 1
Length: 25.68 mm
Width: 12.75 mm
Thickness: 2.23 mm
Weight: 3.28 g
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 9th October 2011
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Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.