Rights Holder: Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum
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Unique ID: WILT-38DB61
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
A Medieval silver double-ended toilet instrument known as a spoon-probe, the shaft of which has barley-sugar twisting and is a little bent.
The spoon end is tear-drop shaped, c.18mm long and widening and thickening from 3.02x2.17mm beyond the twisted shaft to 4.62x2.07mm at the rounded opposite end. Internally it measures 15.87mm in length and widens from 1.88mm to 3.37mm, with a max.depth of c.2mm.
The shaft is square in cross-section (2.54x2.47mm) and tightly twisted (about ten twists are apparent). Towards the opposite end is a slight bend, and extending from this end is a long triangular-shaped probe, both long edges slightly chamfered. This measures 27.14x(max)5.01x1.01mm, the rounded point at the other end being 1.31mm wide.
Notes:
Discussion: for a similar example see 2008 T240, from Aston Abbotts, Buckinghamshire (PAS ID: SOM-B38BA2).
Consequently, in terms of age and as the object contains a minimum of 10% precious metal, it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder after being disclaimed as Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2012T353
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Quantity: 1
Length: 83.89 mm
Width: 5.01 mm
Thickness: 2.47 mm
Weight: 2.94 g
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 1st December 2011 - Saturday 31st December 2011
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Other reference: Salisbury Museum Entry Form No. 3894
Treasure case number: 2012T353
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.