Rights Holder: National Museums Liverpool
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Unique ID: LVPL-21D28D
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
An incomplete cast copper alloy signet seal ring combined with a pipe tamper. The finger ring element of the object is missing with just a tiny fragment of the hoop remaining. The pipe tamper is integral to the hoop.
The pipe tamper is circular in cross section and has a moulded collar at the junction with the hoop. The tamper flares outwards widening towards the terminal. Another moulded collar decorates the terminal which is also decorated with vertical ridges around the sides. The terminal measures 8.57mm in diameter. The pipe tamper element measures 22.88mm in length. The object has a light green patina and is corroded.
The two artefacts; finger ring and pipe tamper, were often combined in the 17th century, as gentlemen would apparently often loose their pipe tamper having had too much to drink. With such an artefact the user could wear his ring and conceal the tamper until needed (SUSS-373EA5).
For a similar example recorded on the database see Bloom, C (2013) SWYOR-D0A4F1 A POST MEDIEVAL PIPE TAMPER Webpage available at: http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/544982.
Class: Finger ring
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1600
Date to: Circa AD 1700
Quantity: 1
Length: 26.52 mm
Width: 9.29 mm
Thickness: 7.69 mm
Weight: 4.6 g
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 1st July 2014
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Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Grid reference source: Centred on village (which isn't a parish)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.