BOOK FITTING

A fragment of the front plate of a post-medieval copper alloy book clasp, probably dating to c. 1500-1650. The fragment is rectangular in plan, with one end (the strap attachment end) which is flared and has four triangular indentations. One of the tips of this flared edge is missing due to an old break. The opposite end of the plate (the hook end) is missing. The break here is worn, but it is straight and square.

At the attachment end there are two equally-sized holes, arranged transversely and each sitting within a stamped circle. The two holes are close enough for the stamped circles to intersect. One of the holes contains the remains of an iron rivet. Extending from each stamped circle towards the broken end is a set of three parallel incised lines, equally spaced but of unequal length, the central line being the longest in each case. At the centre of the broken edge there is a slightly larger but incomplete hole which is surrounded by two concentric stamped circles, only half of which remain, the other half being lost to the break. The reverse of the plate is undecorated.

The plate would have originally been flat in cross-section but is now slightly bent, possibly due to post-depositional damage. The metal has a mid reddish-brown patina with patches of green corrosion.

The book clasp is 37.6 mm long, 29.3 mm wide, 22.9 mm excluding the flared end, 1.2 mm thick and weighs 6.22 g.

The form and decoration are typical of book clasps of the early post-medieval period, as discussed by Margeson (1993, 74).