Rights Holder: Norfolk County Council
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Unique ID: NMS-664EF6
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
Fragment of a medieval silver pin, comprising a polyhedral pinhead and the stub of a collared shaft. The surviving part of the shaft is circular in section with a thicker, circular collar. The pin-head is in the form of a cube with the corners cut off, creating lozengiform and triangular facets. Each facet (except for the base from which the broken shaft projects), is engraved with some traces of niello surviving.
The uppermost lozengiform field has a long line projecting inwards from the centre of each edge with a short line to either side creating a cruciform motif with each arm formed from a trefoil. The four uppermost triangular fields are worn, but appear to be decorated alike with a border around the edge and two short inward projecting lines on each side. The four lozengiform fields around the sides consist of:
The lower triangular facets have different numbers of short lines projecting inwards from some or all of the single line border around the edge.
Dimensions: (excluding stub of shaft) 10 x 11 x 11mm. Diameter of collar of shaft 5mm. Diameter of stub of shaft 2mm. Weight 9.1g.
The present example probably dates to the 12th - 13th century on the basis of the style of the decoration which is similar to that commonly found, for example, on finger-rings. Pin-heads or terminals of similar polyhedron form, dated to the 12th-13th century, have also been found at various sites, eg TAR 2001, fig 120 from Rendham, Suffolk; TAR 2003, fig 219 from Woodbridge area, Suffolk; TAR 2004, fig 226 from East Ewell, Surrey, indicating that the form continued into the medieval period.
12-13th century.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder after being disclaimed as Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2015T313
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1100
Date to: Circa AD 1300
Quantity: 1
Height: 10 mm
Width: 11 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight: 9.1 g
Date(s) of discovery: Friday 13th March 2015 - Friday 13th March 2015
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SMR reference number: 60419
Other reference: SET042015
Treasure case number: 2015T313
Primary material: Silver
Completeness: Fragment
Surface Treatment: Inlaid with niello
Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.