Rights Holder: Lincolnshire County Council
CC License:
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Unique ID: PUBLIC-D0CF1F
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
An incomplete copper-alloy book clasp of Howsam type A.1.1, and of medieval date (c. 1350-1450). The object is part of a two-piece book clasp with hinged plate and loop. The plate has been lost, though the hinge loop remains.
The main plate is sub-D-shaped with moulded linear decoration stamped with irregularly spaced annulets to the upper surface. A central circular perforation is also present. A moulded stylised zoomorphic terminal extends from the rounded edge of the main plate, at right angles to the plate itself. The forward-facing terminal has a prominent mouth, nose, brow and ears, and a circular perforation runs transversely through the the beast as an 'eye'?. Two integral loops extend from either corner to the opposite side of the main plate. The reverse of the object is flat and undecorated.
The metal has a dark green patina and is in fair condition. The object is 34mm long, 20mm wide, 4mm thick 7mm high and weighs 10.7g.
Class:
clasp
Sub class: Howsam type A.1.1
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1350
Date to: Circa AD 1450
Quantity: 1
Length: 34 mm
Height: 7 mm
Width: 20 mm
Thickness: 4 mm
Weight: 10.7 g
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Primary material: Copper alloy
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Stamped
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Howsam, C.L. | 2016 | Book Fastenings and Furnishings: An archaeology of late Medieval books | Sheffield | Unpulished PhD Thesis |