Rights Holder: Oliver Clark
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BOOK FITTING
Unique ID: PUBLIC-1DABA9
Object type certainty: Probably
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A medieval to post medieval copper alloy book clasp of Howsam type A.6.2, dating to the 15th - 17th century AD. Made from a flat piece of metal, it has been decoratively cut to form a rectangular plate. One end is rectangular but the other end forms a point. The central section has a semi-circular shape cut out of each side. There are two rivet holes - one inside the triangular projection (still present) and the other in between the two semi-circular cut outs (missing). The surviving rivet is copper alloy and has the same surface appearance as the rest of the clasp. At the clasp end there are two rectangular tabs that are rear-ward curving to accomodate the iron cross bar. The front surface of the clasp has been decorated with zig-zag pattern (rocker-arm or wriggle-work) extending alongside the two semi-circular cut outs and behind the rectangular tabs. There is an irregular eight-pointed star engraved in between the two rivet holes. Two concentric rings frame each rivet hole.
Dimensions: length: 15mm; width at widest: 13mm; width at thinnest: 9mm; weight: 0.92g.
This book clasp is very similar to LON-63D127, except the decoration varies as this example is engraved not with moulded decoration.
Class:
clasp
Sub class: Howsam type A.6.2
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1400
Date to: Circa AD 1700
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 25 mm
Width: 13 mm
Weight: 0.92 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 5th May 2015
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Iron
Decoration style: Geometric
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: London (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Greater London Authority (Greater London Authority)
District: Tower Hamlets (London Borough)
Parish or ward: Shadwell (London Borough Ward)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TQ3580
Four figure Latitude: 51.50281974
Four figure longitude: -0.05635779
1:25K map: TQ3580
1:10K map: TQ38SE
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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