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MOUNT
Unique ID: BH-777206
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An incomplete cast lead or lead-alloy lion headed mount, probably dating to the Post-Medieval period (c. AD 1500-1750). The mount is sub-circular in plan and sub-oval in cross-section. The very worn upper surface depicts a lion's head surrounded by a flowing mane. Many of the lion's features are abraded but its eyes, nose and mouth are distinguishable. The underside of the mount is undecorated, with the remains of 14mm long piece of iron wire in the centre. The mount measures 36mm in length, 35mm in width and is a maximum of 11mm thick. It weighs 48.2 grams.
A number of similar mounts are recorded on the PAS database, including HESH-DEF977, HESH-272C18, WAW-5FF592, HAMP-063211, WILT-DA7874 and BERK-A58394. All are dated to the Post-Medieval period (c. AD 1500-1700 AD) based on their composition; solid, cast out of lead and with an iron attachment wire on the back. The use of wire is similar to that seen on bag seals or possibly seals suspended on wire from pottery or glass vessels.
These mounts are often mistaken for Roman lion head mounts which tend to be conical hollow cast objects, made from copper-alloy.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1500
Date to: Circa AD 1750
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 36 mm
Width: 35 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight: 48.2 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 1st January 2017 - Saturday 31st March 2018
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead Alloy
Secondary material: Iron
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Zoomorphic
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Hertfordshire (County)
District: St. Albans (District)
Parish or ward: Redbourn (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TL1011
Four figure Latitude: 51.7868546
Four figure longitude: -0.40664642
1:25K map: TL1011
1:10K map: TL11SW
Grid reference source: Centred on parish
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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