Rights Holder: Suffolk County Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
BOOK FITTING
Unique ID: SF-E16443
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An incomplete copper alloy medieval book clasp of Howsam type A.9.2. At one end there is an incomplete rectangular socket with damage around its outer end. The outer face of this is decorated with an incised geometric motif. Extending from the lower end of this is a roughly triangular section terminating in a small loop sitting at a right-angle to it. This has a circular hole through its reverse face revealling that it is hollow inside. Where this section joins the socket there is a raised lozenge on the outer face divided by two engraved lines into four sections. Below this the outer face of the lower section has a moulded transverse ridge, which also runs down the sides - perhaps intended to create a zoomorphic effect.
A number of similar examples have been recorded on the PAS database, including NMS-A63866; NMS-8EC891 (HER39892) and NMS-FD27A2 (HER51845), all from Norfolk. They are typically thought to have been used as book clasps. A similar, but smaller example from Norfolk has also been declared treasure (NMS-48B706). Fingerlin (1971,111, nos.174-8) dates this type to the late 14th century.
Length: 36.18mm, width: 12.84mm, thickness: 7.60mm, weight: 7.29g
Class:
clasp
Sub class: Howsam type A.9.2
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1350
Date to: Circa AD 1400
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 36.18 mm
Width: 12.84 mm
Thickness: 7.6 mm
Weight: 7.29 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 1st March 2016
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Suffolk (County)
District: Mid Suffolk (District)
To be known as: Beyton
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: SF-7F371A
Object type: BOOK FITTING
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
An incomplete copper alloy medieval Howsam Type A.9.2 book clasp. At the inner end there is an incomplete rectangular socket with a missi…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: NMS-48B706
Object type: BOOK FITTING
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
Terminal from an incomplete medieval silver book clasp of Howsam type A.9.2. Box-like lozenge-shaped composite element formed from an front-p…
Workflow: Published
Find number: SF-54271E
Object type: BOOK FITTING
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
An incomplete cast copper-alloy gilt book fitting of Howsam type A.9.2 dating to the late Medieval period, dating c. 1350-1400. The fitting c…
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