Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
PURSE
Unique ID: SOM-13AE42
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
Complete, copper alloy purse bar dating from the late 15th to early 16th centuries. It is comprised of two separate pieces. The largest piece is a horizontal circular sectioned bar with large globular and circular knops on each end. The knops have two incised lines running horizontally around the circumfrence with a raised ridge in between. The end is marked with a transverse 'V' shaped groove. The grooves are irregular and there are small striations in the widest parts possibly suggesting they were filed. At the centre of the horizontal bar is a boss, broadly 'D'-shaped in plan with a flat top and a curve formed by a short flat bottom edge with angled shoulders, pierced with a circular central hole. Through this hole passes a shorter circular sectioned vertical bar, held in place by a trapezoidal knop at each end. From the upper knop an oval loop extends. The loop is 'D' shaped in section with a flat inner side and curved outer side. The boss and the bars are plain. The purse bar measures 95.3mm long, 48.1mm wide and 8.0mm thick. It weighs 33g.
It is a Ward Perkins (1940: 167, fig. 52) Type B3 and a similar example can be seen on this database; SOM-AEB9F2
Class:
bar and loop
Sub class: Williams Class J
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1450
Date to: Circa AD 1550
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 95.3 mm
Width: 48.1 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Weight: 33 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 21st January 2012
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: SCC receipt 022022
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Somerset (County)
District: West Somerset (District)
To be known as: Stogumber
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Museum | 1940 | London Museum Medieval Catalogue | London | HMSO |
Similar objects
Find number: SOM-EFFB80
Object type: PURSE
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
An incomplete cast copper alloy purse bar dating from the late Medieval to ealy Post Medieval periods. It has two main sections; a horizontal…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: SWYOR-DC9D47
Object type: PURSE
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A cast copper alloy purse bar of late medieval or early post-medieval date. The purse bar measures 70.2mm by 52.97mm by 9.46mm and weighs 24.…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: ESS-229D82
Object type: PURSE
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
Medieval cast copper alloy purse bar. Formed of a central rectangular boss cylindrical opening through it, where the swivel and suspension lo…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618