Rights Holder: Somerset 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: SOM-170896
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A Medieval to Post Medieval copper alloy hooked section of a book clasp dating to the period c. AD 1500 - 1650. In plan the main body of the plate is almond shaped, expanding into a sub-rectangular section at one end, and with this in turn expanding into a narrow rectangular bar bent to form a backwards facing hook. The object is badly worn on all edges and with a transverse crack running along the centre of the almond-shaped portion of the plate. The front face of the clasp was decorated, with a border pecked dots following the shape of the plate and with a series of similarly pecked lines pointing longitudinally inwards from the attachment edn and converging to create a triangle, which terminate roughly in the centre of the almond shaped section. The object is of even thickness throughout. The clasp measures 45.5mm in length, 16.1mm in width and is 1.2mm thick; it weighs 3.90g.
A number of similar book clasps have already been recorded onto the PAS database, such as: SOM-EF5060, SOM-0D6A71, and are discussed by Margesson (1993: 74). they are generally dated to the early Post-Medieval period. Due to the style of decoration, a slightly broader date range extending back into the medieval period is given here.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1450
Date to: Circa AD 1650
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 45.5 mm
Width: 16.1 mm
Thickness: 1.2 mm
Weight: 3.9 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 1st June 2016 - Tuesday 20th December 2016
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: SCC receipt: 019073
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Somerset (County)
District: Taunton Deane (District)
To be known as: Ash Priors
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: SF-9A136B
Object type: BOOK FITTING
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A complete cast copper-alloy book fitting dating to the Post-Medieval period, c. 1500-1600. It is broadly cruciform in plan, with a hooked up…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: SOM-EF5060
Object type: BOOK FITTING
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
One part (hooked section) of an unusually small Post Medieval book clasp. Only the front plate of copper alloy remains, the back plate is m…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: SUSS-0E3608
Object type: STRAP FITTING
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A complete, early Post-Medieval, copper alloy, strap fitting from a sword belt hanger c. 1500 - 1650 AD.
It is a single piece frame, sub…
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