PURSE

An incomplete copper alloy purse bar with loop, dating to c. 1500 - 1550. The remains of the purse bar include the two horizontal arms which would have formed the upper part of the frame and the loop and shank which now sits loose in the central block and can be removed. The remainder of the frame is now missing. The purse bar has a tapering oval shaped attached loop, this tapers into a rounded rectangular collar. The loop shank, below the collar passes through a central block. A rounded terminal rove is missing at the terminal end of the loop, which would have held the loop securely. The arms are broadly circular in cross section, one end is missing its terminal knop, one side has a circumferential groove, the other side is narrower, maybe due to a modern break or manufacturing flaw. A small fragment of the frame is present, consisting of a flat sheet with an sub circular perforation, secured by on the bar by the rove. The central block is decorated with two diagonal grooves creating a chevron. The reverse appears undecorated although it is incomplete and shows signs of crude manufacture or a modern break.
Date: Post Medieval - c. 1500 - 1550
Dimensions: 48.96 mm x 48.60 mm
Thickness: 17.64 mm (loop) 10.05 mm (bar)
Weight: 20.55 g.

Theresa Gilmore notes in database record WAW-F86EA6: "Late Medieval purse frames came in several sections. The main part consisted of a purse bar and hanger which hung off the belt. The purse bar supported the main part of the purse. Attached to the purse bar, were one or two supporting (pendent) arms, which would have the bag of the purse sewn onto it, to maintain the shape and increase the durability of the purse. It would have the additional advantage that it would make the purse slightly less susceptible to Cut-Purses (thieves) than a leather purse attached to a belt.
This example is consistent with that of a Ward Perkins Type B1 (Williams Class C1). Several similar purse bars have been recorded on the database, including: WMID-ED6AE9; WMID-D291E2; WMID-D7C867; WMID-038892; WMID-D88803, WMID-4AEA57, WMID-C39C3F and WMID-2CEDB9.
References: Ward-Perkins 1940 p162, London Museum Medieval Catalogue. Williams, D. (2012) Copper Alloy Purse Bars and Frames. A new classification using finds from England and Wales recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme."