Rights Holder: St. Albans District Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
NAIL CLEANER
Unique ID: BH-E3DAC0
Object type certainty: Possibly
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A copper-alloy artefact, possibly representing an Early-Medieval nail-cleaner.
The object has a flat-sectioned shaft which is of roughly equal width throughout; at the base, however, this shaft widens into a thinner terminal with decoratively grooved edges, a sideways curvature and bifurcated end. At the top, the shaft is surmounted by a loop with wider collar at the base and a decoratively cut or moulded band beneath.
Length: 46.1mm; maximum width (loop): 6.2mm; thickness: 1.8mm. Weight: 1.5g.
Similar cosmetic implements are held in the Anglo-Saxon collections of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, although there are no obvious nail-cleaners with forked points (see MacGregor and Bolick 1993: 216 - 220).
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 410
Date to: Circa AD 700
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 46.1 mm
Width: 6.2 mm
Thickness: 1.8 mm
Weight: 1.5 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 12th March 2014
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: Ver 14/166 - 15
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Bedford (Unitary Authority)
District: Bedford (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Stagsden
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacGregor, A. and Bolick, E. | 1993 | A summary catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon collections (non-ferrous metals), Ashmolean Museum, Oxford | Oxford | Tempvs Reparatum |
Similar objects
Find number: SF-658793
Object type: BROOCH
Broadperiod: EARLY MEDIEVAL
An incomplete cast copper-alloy pin, possibly a brooch pin or a cosmetic pick of Early-Medieval date. It is missing the top of the suspension…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: DENO-72FB47
Object type: NAIL CLEANER
Broadperiod: ROMAN
Crudely made complete copper alloy wire nail cleaner, probably originally a brooch pin. Circular sectioned wire shaft with flattened bifurcat…
Workflow: Published
Find number: PUBLIC-521DD3
Object type: TOILET ARTICLE
Broadperiod: UNKNOWN
A complete cast copper-alloy toilet article, probably a Roman or Anglo-Saxon nail cleaner or pick. The toilet article consists of a of a flat…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618