Rights Holder: Birmingham Museums Trust
CC License:
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Unique ID: HESH-4BEA4A
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
Specialist Treasure Report for H.M. Coroner:
Silver Livery Badge from Ludlow - Treasure Case 2015-T554
HM Coroner: Mr John Ellery
District: Shropshire
Findspot: Ludlow
Date of discovery: July 2015
Circumstances of discovery: Whilst searching with a metal detector
Description:
A cast silver badge in the form of a male Talbot, a breed of large hunting dog. The Talbot is zoomorphically accurate being formed walking left (facing forwards) with its tongue protruding from its open mouth. The front foot is raised (mid step) and the tail is looped back upon itself forming a circular loop at the rear end. The prepuce / penis of the dog is clearly shown between its rear legs. The reverse of the badge is flat and the surface has been filed leaving long deep diagonal scratches. At the centre of the reverse is a separate but attached circular hoop or ring - this is set horizontally.
Dimensions:
The badge measures 12.7mm long, 9.6mm high and is 2.2mm thick; the hoop on the back has an external diameter of 5.9mm, internal diameter of 2.9mm, is formed from wire 1.5mm thick and projects from the rear face 4.6mm. The badge weighs 1.46 grams.
Discussion and Dating:
The Talbot is the familiar device used by the Talbot family, Earls of Shropshire. It was adopted by Sir John Talbot (1384-1453) as his familiar crest. This silver badge can be directly compared to another example discovered in Tong, Shropshire (Bolton 2007) which is less complete and also larger. The exact date of this form of badge is uncertain - familiar badges are most popular in the 15th and early 16th centuries although this example could date from the late 16th or the early 17th century being similar in form to engraved Talbots on silverwork linked to the Earls of Shrewsbury; for example a silver hawking vervel from Worfield, Shropshire (Reavill 2009), a seal matrix from Acaster Malbis, Yorkshire (Griffiths 2013).
Metal Content:
The badge has not been tested for its precious metal content; however, it will fulfil the criteria laid out in the Treasure Act (1996) being composed of an alloy with more than 10% precious metal (silver).
References:
Bolton, A (2007) A medieval silver bade from Tong, Shropshire (WAW-48AAB3) https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/197129
Griffiths, R (2013) A post medieval (17th century) silver seal matrix from Acaster Malbis, Yorkshire (YORYM-7DBF82) https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/557192
Reavill, P (2009) A post medieval silver hawking vervel of 17th century date (HESH-3A6AE5) https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/269641
Author
Peter Reavill
Finds Liaison Officer, Portable Antiquities Scheme
Museum Resource Centre; Ludlow - August 2016
Postscript
Acquired by Shropshire Museum Service
Accession Number: SHRMS: 2017.00024
Display: Ludlow Museum - Butter Cross - Ludlow
Current location of find: Ludlow Museum - Buttercross
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2015T554
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1400
Date to: Circa AD 1650
Quantity: 1
Length: 12.7 mm
Width: 9.6 mm
Thickness: 2.2 mm
Weight: 1.46 g
This information is restricted for your access level.
Treasure case number: 2015T554
Museum accession number: SHRMS: 2017.00024
Primary material: Silver
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Zoomorphic
Completeness: Complete
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.