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DRESS FASTENER (DRESS)
Unique ID: KENT-48B7D7
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
A cast silver gilt 'looped' portion of a dress fastener, dating c.1500-1650.
Description: The item is sub-triangular in shape and is formed from a chubby head with wings or vegetativeelements sprouting from the crown of the head. Above the head between the sprouting elements is a large open loop, into which the hook part of the garment fastener would slide. From the lower sides of head are two smaller attachment loops, through which thread would pass to sew the fastener into a garment. These are formed from acanthus or other vegetative loops sprouting from the side of the head and looping downwards and joining at the mouth. In between these two smaller loops is a small knop.
The item appears to have been cast in moulded relief, and the detailing of the eyes nose and mouth and cheek are all clearly defined. The surface is gilded though much of this has worn off. The back of the fastener is flat, plain and undecorated.
Measurements: 10.34mm wide, 13.04mm long, 2.82mm thick and 1g in weight.
Discussion: There have been many examples of similar dress fasteners of this kind previously recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database. Most, however are more obviously cherubs, this example maybe intended to be a cherub looking out of foliage or a green man type figure. Most of them are silver gilt and have been declared Treasure. See records ESS-205795, BERK-B461DA, ESS-F12A68, DOR-9D6C65, ESS-FBAA23, SF-4908E1, HESH-09C581. Artefacts if this type can be compared with similar 16th century Tudor artefacts that were used as garment fasteners (Gaimster et. al. 2002) but were likely used through the following century.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder after being disclaimed as Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2017T456
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Middle
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1500
Date to: Circa AD 1650
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 13.04 mm
Width: 10.34 mm
Thickness: 2.82 mm
Weight: 1 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 26th March 2017
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Treasure case number: 2017T456
Materials and construction
Primary material: Silver
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Figurative
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Gilded
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Kent (County)
District: Folkestone and Hythe (District)
Parish or ward: Elham (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TR1747
Four figure Latitude: 51.18102938
Four figure longitude: 1.10345631
1:25K map: TR1747
1:10K map: TR14NE
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaimster, D., Hayward, M., Mitchell, D. and Parker, K. | 2002 | Tudor silver-gilt dress-hooks: A new class of treasure find in England | London | The Society of Antiquaries |
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Timeline of associated dates
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