Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
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Unique ID: DEV-6E0DDF
Object type certainty: Probably
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A Medieval or Post-Medieval copper alloy object, probably a cross guard (quillon) from a dagger, probably dating to c. AD 1200-1500. The object comprises of a pair of upward-angled, rectangular sectioned arms flanking a central rectangular socket. The arms are slightly waisted in plan and have bevelled edges. Each arm terinates in a three-dimensionally moulded knop. The external walls of the socketed section flare slightly towards the base. The possible quillon features relatively simple incised decoration, with two pairs of three parallel transverse lines on either lateral face of arms, flanking the central waist. The inner three lines terminate in a perpendicular incised line on each face.
Dimensions: height 9.0mm; width 48.2mm; thickness 13.9mm; weight 15.41g.
Dimensions of socket: width: 12.6mm; thickness 9.0mm.
A preliminary search has found no exact parallel for this item, however in its form and decoration it closely resembles quillon guards, cf. WILT-3453E5, LANCUM-2E754A, HAMP-470615, as well as BH-3E7003 which is of a comparably small size. Ward-Perkins (1940, plate VII no. 2) also publishes an example of comparable size, although different form, dated to ?1400. He (ibid) suggests they were at their most popular in the 14th century, being ousted by the Rondel dagger towards the end of that century, but remaining in use throughout the Medieval period.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1500
Quantity: 1
Length: 9 mm
Width: 48.2 mm
Thickness: 13.9 mm
Weight: 15.41 g
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 7th November 2017 - Tuesday 6th February 2018
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Other reference: SCC receipt: 019860
4 Figure: ST0115
Four figure Latitude: 50.9259312
Four figure longitude: -3.40998533
1:25K map: ST0115
1:10K map: ST01NW
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ward Perkins, J.B. | 1940 | The London Museum Medieval Catalogue | London | HMSO |