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DRESS HOOK
Unique ID: NMGW-C595D8
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
Silver gilt dress-hook with a thin back-plate cut from a sheet, cusped around the edge. The back-plate supports a hollow, cast heart-shaped boss. On the reverse of the back plate can be seen the scar for the silver hook which was originally soldered to the plate. The bar loop is complete. The hollow heart supports filigree ornament of circlets within larger circles, and raised silver pellets. Larger pellets occur in the spaces between the filigree circlets. Gilding is partial on the back.
Overall dimensions 15.8 x 19mm; height including loop 16.5mm; internal width of loop 10mm; weight 6.65g.
The dress hook has not undergone any conservation.
Notes:
This is the first example of this particular form of dress hook to be recorded from Wales, but a close parallel dated to the sixteenth century is known from New Romney, Kent (Gaimster et al 2002, no. 3). Other dress hooks are known from Wales, including Llandow, Vale of Glamorgan (TAR 2004, no. 502), Llanhennock, Monmouthshire (11.02), and sixteenth-century parallels have been found further afield at Beccles in Suffolk and Bempton in East Yorkshire (PA&TAR 2008, nos 375, 376) and Botley in Hampshire (TAR 2005/6, no. 653), illustrating the widespread popularity of these accessories. Other forms of dress hook are now known from Wales. There is a box form dress-hook from Carew, Pembrokeshire (08.10) paralleled by an example from Chelsham Court Farm, Chelsham, Surrey (Gaimster et al 2002, 166 no. 8), and one from Arreton, Isle of Wight (TAR 2005-6, no. 656). Documentary evidence indicates that these items were popular in the sixteenth century (the latest reference in an inventory being dated 1598; Gaimster et al 2002, 184).
Class: Silver gilt
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Abergavenny Museum
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2015TRW19
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 15.8 mm
Width: 19 mm
Weight: 6.65 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 30th November 2013
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: STTS 2017.23
Treasure case number: 2015TRW19
Materials and construction
Primary material: Silver
Secondary material: Gold
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Gilded
Spatial metadata
Region: Wales (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Monmouthshire (Unitary Authority)
District: Monmouthshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Grosmont (Community)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SO3615
Four figure Latitude: 51.82993188
Four figure longitude: -2.93012883
1:25K map: SO3615
1:10K map: SO31NE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCMS | 2007 | Treasure Annual Report 2004 | London | Department for Culture, Medial and Sport | |||
| 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 | |||
| Portable Antiquities Scheme | 2006 | Portable Antiquities Scheme Annual Report 2005/6 | London | DCMS | |||
| Portable Antiquities Scheme | 2010 | Portable Antiquities and Treasure Annual Report 2008 | London | British Museum |
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