UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT

A composite sheet and cast metal gilt-silver medieval ship (cog) shaped object, likely an element of a larger object.

Description: The object is formed from one pieces of worked sheet metal object folded in half with a cast attached at the stern. The ship is in the form of a medieval cog type ship with a large crescent shaped hull, high stern castle and high bow. The upper deck has a shallow lip along its edge which maybe gunwales. The stern castle has clear and defined crenellations. The hull itself has relief decoration on the left (port) side, perhaps meant to be defining the planking of the ship's hull. There are a number of annulets along the planking but it is not clear as to what these are meant to be. Part of the portside bow has broken away and there may have been a forecastle which is now missing. There is hole in the middle of the upper surface of the deck perhaps for a main mast and smaller one in the stern castle deck perhaps for mizzen (rear) mask or pennant/flag, the latter commonly shown on artistic representation of cogs. The starboard side of the hull is undecorated and appears to show more of the hull and has an apparent attachment point to attach the ship to its parent object.

Dividing each side of the hull emanating from the bottom are two thin un-gilded sections of the sheet silver used to create the ship's hull. It is possible this is intended to be waves upon which the ship sales but these elements are very heavily distorted and abraded so it is not clear as to what they were intended to do or represent. The hull and stern castle are silver while the remaining bit and damage to the fore bow is silver-grey in colour.

Measurements: 26.9mm long, 19.71mm high, 9.67mm wide and 4.69g in weight.

Discussion: The exact identity of this object is uncertain, while clearly part of a larger whole, as indicated by the blank side with an attachment points and the irregular sheeting at the base being split, what it attached to is unclear. The ship form is that of a medieval cog used from the late 10^th to early 16^th.

In some ways this object resembles the much larger and ornate Medieval and Renaissance table ornaments known as Nefs. These large table ornaments became popular in France from the second quarter of the 13^th century, initially as ornamental drinking vessel (Lightbown 1978, 3) evolving into decorative centre pieces, with masts, sails rigging and other features by the 14^th century. Some examples were even used as condiment containers such as The Burghly Nef (M.60-1959) in the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection dating to 1527-1528. These remained in fashion until the beginning 17^th century, often evolving with contemporary ship design and other technological innovations such as clockwork and cannon (See British Museum catalogue no. 1866,1030.1).

Judging by a combination of the type of ship and this possible affinity with the larger nefs a date of 14^th to early 16^th century is tentatively suggested.