VERVEL

An incomplete vervel, composed of a silver strip of rectangular section, forming a semi-circle in plan. At each end are two projecting sockets forming half of a hinge mechanism. The exterior face of the strip is inscribed in italic script: Halland in Sussex.

Length: 21.37mm

Width: 4.59mm

Thickness: 1.24mm.

Weight: 1.53g.

Discussion: This example differs from the other vervels recorded with the PAS in that rather than being designed to attach to the jesses, it appears to have been made to attach to the leg of the bird itself. Such vervels were described by early 17th century falconer Sir Thomas Sherley (1603), which he named 'garters'. Although only half of this artefact was recovered, it is assumed that the diameter of the entire ring would have been c.21mm, making it almost twice the diameter of any of the other vervels recorded in this volume. The overall weight would also likely be in excess of 3g, which is also greater than the above cited examples. However, these dimensions are consistent with those of another vervel of this type in the collection of the British Museum (1913,0710.8).

Vervels served to identify the owners of hunting birds, and so in order to be effective they usually carried the name of the owner and their place of residence. In this case, the owner's name may have appeared on the now missing half of the vervel, or on a corresponding vervel on the other leg of the bird. It is possible that the owner had an association with nearby Halland House, now a ruin but built in 1595.

The lettering on the vervel, with the 'ears' on the capital 'S' and the long 's' in Sussex is consistent with a 17^th century date.

Reference: Shirley, T. 1603. A Short Discourse of Hawking to the Field. [Reprinted in 2004 by the American Archives of Falconry].