PIN

Treasure case 2017 240: disclaimed, returned to finder

Description: A small silver-gilt dress-pin head with a short length of the pin. The silver head is hollow and spherical and decorated with silver wire filigree. A horizontal silver wire filigree band divides the head into two hemispheres, this is missing in places exposing the soldering below and the joint between the two hemispheres. Each hemisphere is decorated with three large filigree circles of twisted wire. Within each circle there are a further three twisted wire circles surrounding a pellet, one pellet missing on the lower hemisphere. In the spandrels, between the large circles and the central band, is a small twisted wire circle containing a pellet, there is a scar for a missing circle in one spandrel on the upper hemisphere and a pellet missing from one on the lower hemisphere. At the top there is a further larger pellet and at the bottom is a hole where the shaft of the silver probably drawn wire pin protrudes. Slight traces of gilding survive.

Dimensions: The head is 12.3mm in diameter and the fragment 14.4 mm long including the pin shaft, 11.1mm excluding it and weighs 3.25 grams.

Discussion: Dress pins with spherical heads decorated with filigree are frequently reported through the Treasure Act and are dated to the 16^th century. This design with larger and smaller filigree circles and pellets is very popular. Comparisons include 2004 T159 (SUSS-52C0B2); 2014 T101 (NMGW-C845A3) and 2011 T641 (NCL-2BF5E1).

The fragment appears to consist of over 10% precious metal and be over 300 years old at the time of finding and as such qualifies as potential Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.

Laura Burnett

Finds Liaison Officer for Somerset

June 2017