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TOY
Unique ID: IOW-F9A684
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An incomplete post-Medieval to Modern cast lead novelty toy in the form of a human head (c. 1820- c. 1925).
The object is sub-rectangular in plan and mostly oval in cross-section. Both sides are moulded into the shape of frowning a human face with lined forehead, lidded eyes and open mouth with top lip depicted, the sides of the jaw extend downwards into points and appears complete. There is a rectangular slot (9.8 x 4.9mm) running through the object which starts at the lip and finishes at the top of the head; this originally held a rectangular bar attached to the jaw.
Height: 26.72mm; width: 25.63mm; thickness: 15.39mm. Weight: 21.25g.
The object is mainly covered with a buff patina.
Previously believed to be knife or dagger terminals these objects have now been identified as novelty toys. 'Commonly made from cast Iron or a tin alloy such as pewter they therefore corrode very quickly in the ground and give the impression of some age. The jaw piece fitted into the recessed rectangular slot in the head and a small fulminate charge was placed in between the butting faces. When dropped on a hard surface they would explode with a loud bang and the jaw piece would fly out. They were available with a variety of different heads some of which modelled famous personalities of the time', pers. comm. Garry Crace, 7/10/2014.
Similar objects are recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database: See finds: HAMP1432; IOW-0B41C2; IOW-219932; IOW-57F067; IOW-C8BEC7; LVPL-938282; NMS-276C13; SF-1CE706; SUSS-6AAFA5; SUSS-8ED626 and YORYM-06DD31.
LVPL-938282 has a jaw attached.
Find of note status
This is a find of note and has been designated: County / local importance
Class: Novelty toy
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: MODERN
Date from: Circa AD 1820
Date to: Circa AD 1925
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Height: 26.72 mm
Width: 25.63 mm
Thickness: 15.39 mm
Weight: 21.25 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Friday 20th September 2013
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: IOW2014-2-74
Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
District: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Isle of Wight
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: IOW-57F067
Object type: TOY
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
An incomplete post-Medieval to Modern cast lead novelty toy in the form of a human head (c. 1820- c. 1925).
The object is sub-rectangular …
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: IOW-0B41C2
Object type: TOY
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
An incomplete post-Medieval to Modern cast lead novelty toy in the form of a human head (c. 1820- c. 1925).
The object is sub-rectangular …
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: IOW-C8BEC7
Object type: TOY
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
An incomplete post-Medieval to Modern cast lead novelty toy in the form of a human head (c. 1820- c. 1925).
The object is sub-rectangular …
Workflow: Published
Timeline of associated dates
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