Rights Holder: National Museums Liverpool
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: LVPL-EC6521
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
An incomplete copper alloy purse bar of Medieval date c. AD 1475 to 1550. The purse bar is made up of two sections. There is a horizontal, circular cross sectioned bar with a square block in the centre. One arm and terminal of this bar is missing. The other end of this bar terminates in a globular knop decorated with a moulded spiral design.
There is a circular perforation in the centre of the block through which passes another separate bar with a conical shaped separate knop on one end securing it in place. The other end of this bar terminates with what appears to be a recent break. When complete it would have extended to form an integral attachment loop. Each face of the central block and the remaining bar is undecorated.
Ward Perkins in the 1940 London Museum Medieval Catalogue illustrates a similar example on page 167, Fig.52 and on Plate 37, No.4, which is classified as Type B3 and is dated from the early 16th century.
A complete example which can be found on the database is (HAMP-F848D2) https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/446785.
Dimensions: 63.73mm in length, 15.47mm in width, 11.02mm thick (at terminal knop), 16.7g.
Class: Ward-Perkins Type B3
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1475
Date to: Circa AD 1550
Quantity: 1
Length: 63.73 mm
Width: 15.47 mm
Thickness: 11.02 mm
Weight: 16.7 g
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 1st June 2015 - Friday 12th June 2015
This information is restricted for your access level.
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.