Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
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PURSE
Unique ID: IOW-4B8981
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
An incomplete Medieval to post-Medieval copper-alloy purse bar (c. 1450-c. 1550).
The suspension loop is missing,
The sub-rectangular central block is flat on the top and underside and is 8.9mm in width and 8.5mm in depth. It has circular hole for the shaft of the suspension loop. The hole has a diameter of 4.3mm. At each corner of the central block there is a vertical rib. Each arm is similar and the tops curve down from the top of the central block to form lipped decoration. The arms are narrowed beyond the lipped decoration and circular in cross-section in order to accommodate the frame and the separate roves. The roves are dome-shaped, flat on their inner faces. One of the roves has a diameter of 9.0 mm and the other is smaller with a diameter of 7.9mm. Two fragments of the frame survive at one end and there is one frame fragment at the opposite end. Below each arm is a projecting attachment plate with three circular perforations or sewing holes which all have a diameter of 3.0mm.
This purse bar is dull green with areas of corrosion and patches of a dark green patina.
Length: 79.2mm; width: 8.9mm; thickness: 15.4mm. Weight: 28.41g.
Similar purse bars have been discussed by Ward Perkins in the Museum of London Medieval Catalogue. He classifies this type as Type B5 (Williams Class B). Ward Perkins suggests that this type of purse bar dates to the period 1450 - 1550 (pp 167-169).
Similar purse bars have been recorded on The Portable Antiquities Scheme database. For example, see finds: BH-10C1D3; DOR-2CA363; HESH-B960F6; SUSS-2BCFE2; SWYOR-CE33E6; SWYOR-E45953; WILT-83ABE1 and WMID-7F25F4.
Ward Perkins, J.B., 1940 The London Museum Medieval Catalogue London: HMSO.
Class:
bar
Sub class: Williams Class B
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1450
Date to: Circa AD 1550
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 79.2 mm
Width: 8.9 mm
Thickness: 15.4 mm
Weight: 28.41 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 18th April 2018 - Wednesday 18th April 2018
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: IOW2018-7-258
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
District: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Isle of Wight
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Museum | 1940 | London Museum Medieval Catalogue | London | HMSO | 167-169 |
Similar objects
Find number: DOR-2CA363
Object type: PURSE
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Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: LANCUM-436DE1
Object type: PURSE
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Cast copper alloy central suspension loop from a purse bar dating from the later medieval or early post-medieval period, that is c. AD1450-15…
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Find number: WMID-7F25F4
Object type: PURSE
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
An incomplete copper alloy purse bar and suspension loop of Late Medieval or early Post-Medieval date (1450 - 1550).
The arms of the purse…
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Timeline of associated dates
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