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BOOK FITTING
Unique ID: SF-B7A2D0
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An incomplete cast copper-alloy book clasp. Only the cast loop terminal now survives, this would have originally have been hinged onto a folded sheet plate onto which the strap was riveted. The cast loop terminal measures 25mm in length and 16.1mm in width. The horizontal bar, which would have passed through the foled plate, is now missing due to an old break.
The terminal is almost semi-circular in shape with a flat back face and a rounded front face with transverse mouldings and circular and crescent shaped indentations. There is a central circular hole (3mm in diameter), which would have allowed the book clasp to be fitted over a peg/rod mounted on the cover, in the centre of the terminal. The book clasp terminates with a small loop, which seems to be in the form of an animals head, with long ears lying back against the head, which is 2.7mm in diameter and at right angles to the rest of the clasp. This loop could have originally have had a cord attached to it to make it easier to pull the book clasp off the peg.
Similar book clasps have been discovered in London they are believed to be medieval and late 14th to early 15th century in date (Egan 1998, 278-279, fig 214).
Class:
clasp
Sub class: Howsam type A.1.1
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1350
Date to: Circa AD 1450
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 25 mm
Width: 16.1 mm
Weight: 5.57 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 1st January 2004
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Cambridgeshire (County)
District: East Cambridgeshire (District)
To be known as: Isleham
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egan, G. | 1998 | The Medieval Household: Daily Living c.1150-c.1450 (Medieval Finds from Excavations in London) | London | The Stationery Office | 278-9, fig 214 |
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Timeline of associated dates
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