BOX

A probable lead alloy heraldically decorated lid from a box or container of nested weights of later medieval date (c. AD 1340 - 1500). Originally the box lid would have been a circular disc, it now broadly circular and has a torn area positioned at approximately 12 o'clock on its outer rim. In profile the disc is rectangular with a raised cast external ridge which projects as a rim on the upper and lower faces. There are no projections from this external rim and so signs of other forms of fixing. The upper surface has a cast heraldic design comprising a centrally positioned 'triangular / heater-shaped' quartered shield. The shield bears the arms of England post 1340 being a field of six lis arranged in two staggered rows - arms of France as semé de lis (upper left) / three lions passant (upper right) three lis of France (lower right) and three lions passant guardant (lower left). The shield is enclosed by three palm branches / laureate leaves. This is in turn is enclosed by a collar of alternating hachured plates and conjoined S shaped links. The opposite / lower side is 'decorated' with a conjoined saltire and vertical cross dividing the reverse into eight unequal parts. Each arm of the cross is formed with interlocking 'rocker-arm' decoration. The fields between are also textured with lines of horizontal and vertical rocker-arm. The upper face is a mid-grey colour with a well formed and preserved surface patina. The central shield is worn through handling and has been deliberately cut in at least three places with a single bladed knife leaving distinctive triangular / V shaped nicks.

This lid fits within a distinct but small group of similar lids recovered and published from Britain. John Cherry (1991, p. 34, no. 28) discusses a similar seal like lid in Salisbury Museum - that example has a lombardic inscription around its external edge. Although Cherry groups these with seal matrices, he proposes that it is probably a box lid and that other examples with the royal arms surrounded by a collar of SS or suns and roses are known, including one found during excavations at Carrickfergus Castle, Northern Ireland (McNeill 1980: 83, pl. 28) bearing the arms of France as semé de lis. The PAS has an important contribution to this dataset - the best parallel for this example can be seen from Shudy Camps, Cambridgeshire (ESS-393616) or Warwickshire (WAW-8B8BE4), with other similar examples from Burwash, Sussex (SUSS-C871EA) and with a similar but potentially later crowned shield from Salisbury (WILT-9ABD06). Similar but potentially earlier lids just bearing the Arms of England (three lions passant guardant) and the abbreviated inscription: EDWARD TERTIVS REX ANGLIE DOMINVS HYBERNIE LONDON (Edward III, King of England, Lord of Scotland, London) have been recorded from Broughton, Oxfordshire (BERK-5C2252), Wattisham, Suffolk (SF10988), Salisbury (Cherry 1991: 34 no 28), West Down, Devon (DEV-ACE92F) and South Stainley with Clayton, Yorkshire (SWYOR-F2A081).

The lid measures: 54.5mm diameter, 53.5mm length, and is 4.3mm thick. It weighs 62.40 grams

Note: The form of this lid is very similar to Billie & Charlies 19th century forgeries - in this case it isn't one as it is well formed and has direct parallels from archaeological excavations.