WHISTLE

An incomplete silver post medieval whistle dating to the period c. AD 1500 - 1650. The tubular whistle is made of silver sheet and soldered lengthways along an abutting seam. Two collars composed of spiralled silver wire divide the whistle into three sections. Threaded through each spiral is a silver wire core. The first section comprises an obliquely angled mouthpiece with a D-shaped aperture. The obverse face exhibits a D-shaped sound-hole. The second section is decorated with a grid of punched squares creating a lattice effect. Upon this background is a zig-zag panel which runs around the circumference of the whistle and is broken by the longitudinal joining seam. The panel contains a motif of alternating roses and pomegranates, each of which is separated by a pellet. Soldered over the seam, on the underside, is a small silver wire loop that secures a free running silver wire ring to facilitate attachment. The loop measures 5.94mm in diameter (internal diameter 3.27mm). The wire ring is made from sliver wire slightly thicker than the silver wire used to form the spirals. Just above the second wire collar is a circumferential band of stamped decoration which also carries a design of alternating roses and pomegranates. The third section is bent out of shape and exhibits a longitudinal crack along the line of the joining seam. The open end exhibits a circumferential collar consisting of a cabled band which has been slightly damaged.

Dimensions:

The whistle measures 55.64mm in length, 4.84mm in diameter at the mouthpiece, widening to 8.74mm at the tip. It weighs 6.24g.

Discussion: Such items are commonly termed as hawking or huntsman's whistles. A number of silver hunting whistles of this type have been recorded on the PAS database and submitted as Treasure, IOW-954403 (2005 T96), NMS-CBE4B1 (2012 T875), DENO-C41762 (2014 T196) and SUR-FB1264 (2010 T436).

The whistle appears to consist of over 10% precious metal and be over 300 years old at the time of finding and as such qualifies as potential Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.

Published in Burnett and Shoemark (2016: 215-6).