Record ID: LON-9AC4F5
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete Medieval to Post Medieval bone parchment-pricker dating to the 13th-16th century. The shaft has a circular cross-section and tapers towards the tip, which is socketed to accommodate the iron tip. At the opposite end the stylus would have been carved terminal this is broken and missing. There is a series of five incised lines around the shaft of the stylus at the terminal end. The parchment pricker is a mid-dark brown in colour. Dimensions: length: 59.46mm; width: 5.74mm; weight: 2.32g. These objects were in use throughout the medieval period though most p…
Created on: Thursday 7th September 2023
Last updated: Wednesday 14th February 2024
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LVPL-D63E40
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Norfolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete copper alloy parchment pricker dating to the medieval period (c.AD 1250-1550). The object is comprised of a decorated head and a small portion of the shaft. The head has a rounded, slightly flattened knop, below which are two rounded collars. The centre is an elongated, globular waist that is followed by a double collar. Integral to the head is the shaft which roughly sub-rectangular in section. The shaft terminates in a irregular, worn break. The surface has a dark green / brown patina. Dimensins: Length 32.65mm; width 6.76mm; weight 5.17g Bone parchment …
Created on: Friday 5th February 2021
Last updated: Monday 1st March 2021
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Sporle with Palgrave', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: LVPL-A0CAE1
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Cheshire West and Chester
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete cast copper alloy object, probably a parchment pricker, dating to the late Medieval period (c.AD 1350-1500). The shaft has a circular cross section and tapers towards the tip which terminates in a sharp point. At its thickest the shaft measures 3.5mm in diameter and 0.8mm at the thinnest point. The upper section has a beaded decoration that begin with a thin circular rib followed by a larger globular ridge and ends with a continuation of the main shaft. A top of the shaft is a thinner rod (diameter 2mm) with a circular section that has a rounded end. The object has a l…
Created on: Wednesday 16th December 2020
Last updated: Monday 21st June 2021
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Ruston', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: PUBLIC-81032C
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A small cast and turned copper-alloy medieval parchment pricker dating to the period to c. AD.1270-1600. Description: The object has a hemispherical, oval knop for a head with a tapering shaft which has been sharpened to a point. the gap between the head and the shaft shows finishing to create the neck. It has a medium brown patina. Measurements: Length: 44 mm Weight: 3.08 g Diameter: 4 mm. Discussion: Objects with a similar form appear in copper-alloy, bone/horn and even lead throughout the medieval period though most parallels are from the later 13th -16th century, AD…
Created on: Monday 3rd August 2020
Last updated: Tuesday 28th June 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SF-50614D
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A copper alloy fragment of a parchment pricker, possibly of the Medieval to Post Medieval date. It is an oval cross-sectioned shaft, which has a break at one end and tapers towards a tip at the opposite end. The surfaces are in fair condition. Cf SWYOR-117BC7. Length: 39.11mm Diameter: 6.97mm Weight: 7.55g
Created on: Monday 1st June 2020
Last updated: Wednesday 26th August 2020
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Monks Eleigh', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: WAW-8E33A1
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Warwickshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete Medieval copper alloy parchment pricker, dating from c. AD 1250 – 1550. The object is comprised of a cylindrical rod, with a spherical terminal atop a short, cylindrical neck. The other end of the object has a blunt terminal with a worn break. Below the neck until about three-quarters of the way down the rod, the object is decorated with incised lines in two distinct sections. At the top, incised diagonal lines form a pattern of small lozenges. Beneath, separated by two perpendicular incised lines, a larger lozenge pattern is achieved with a repeated pattern of pa…
Created on: Wednesday 11th March 2020
Last updated: Monday 11th May 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LON-D85052
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete Medieval to Post Medieval bone or ivory parchment-pricker dating to the 13th-16th century. The shaft has a circular cross-section and tapers towards the tip, which is socketed to accommodate the iron tip which is missing. At the opposite end the stylus has a globular head with a three banded collar below. The parchment pricker is a mid-dark brown in colour. Dimensions: length: 69.40mm; diameter of head: 8.67mm; weight: 2.77g These objects were in use throughout the medieval period though most parallels are from the later 13th -16th century, AD.1270-1600 (Egan 1…
Created on: Tuesday 14th January 2020
Last updated: Tuesday 14th January 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: KENT-AD1248
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete but worn medieval bone object, probably a so called 'parchment pricker' or a stylus, c. AD.1270-1600. Description: The object has a hemispherical, oval head with a tapering shaft which has been sharpened to a point. Below the head the top of the shaft is decorated with a series of seven grooves forming a thicker collar and then five circumferal panels, the middle panel being slightly wider than the others. The object is a mid brown colour with a polished finish and is in good condition. Measurements: Length:66.64mm; Diameter of head: 6.17mm; height of head: 8.55mm; We…
Created on: Thursday 31st October 2019
Last updated: Friday 1st November 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LANCUM-41C31D
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Copper-alloy probable medieval parchment pricker (c. AD 1200 - 1500). The object takes the form of a circular-sectioned rod. The middle section is decorated with a wide rounded ridge flanked by pairs of thinner ridges. A similar decorative motif is apparent at the top of the rod, which terminates ultimately with a knob. The bottom of the object is expanded and square in section and tapers to a blunt point. There is a very small hole at the tip which is likely to have once held a spike for writing on wax tablets. The object has a green patina. It is 113.80mm in length and 4.53mm in dia…
Created on: Wednesday 14th August 2019
Last updated: Thursday 22nd August 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LON-61D8A7
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete medieval - post medieval animal skeletal material stylus or parchment pricker dating 13th-15th century. The shaft has a circular cross section and tapers towards the tip which is socketed to accommodate the iron tip which is not present. At the opposite the bone has been carved to form globular knop under which there is further turned bead and collar decoration. The parchment pricker has a mid-dark brown pattination. Dimensions: length: 92.82 mm; diameter: 7.90mm; weight: 5.56g. Stylii such as these were in use throughout the medieval period though most parallels are …
Created on: Thursday 6th April 2017
Last updated: Monday 24th April 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LON-99BF1F
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
One incomplete and one fragment of bone parchment-pricker, dating to c. 1200-1600. The most complete stylus is missing only the iron tip. It has a lathe-turned globular head with a waisted double collar. The shaft is short and tapers only slightly. At the tip it is rounded with a drilled indentation to accomodate the small iron spike used to impress the script. There appears to be some minor damage to the head. The bone is now a patinated light brown. Length: 76.12mm, Diameter of head:7.73mm, Diameter of tip: 3.78mm, Weight: 3.36g The second stylus is only a fragment, consisting…
Created on: Friday 4th March 2016
Last updated: Thursday 7th March 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: PUBLIC-5D9B16
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Published
A complete Medieval to Post Medieval bone or ivory parchment-pricker dating to the 13th-16th century. The shaft has a circular cross-section and tapers towards the tip, which is socketed to accommodate the iron tip which survives. At the opposite end the stylus has been carved to form a terminal in the form of an acorn. There is a series of seven incised lines around the shaft of the stylus 2.5cm from the top of the acorn terminal. The parchment pricker is a mid-dark brown in colour. Dimensions: length: 69.29mm; width: 6.97mm; weight: 2.19g. These objects were in use throughout …
Created on: Friday 13th November 2015
Last updated: Thursday 7th March 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LON-93CDF1
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete medieval or post medieval parchment-pricker made from animal skeletal material (bone, antler or ivory) and dating to the 13th-16th century. The shaft has a circular cross-section and tapers towards the tip, which is socketed to accommodate the iron tip. The iron tip appears to be missing. At the opposite the bone or ivory has been carved to form a decorative pointed knop and there is a groove just below the knop. Dimensions: length: 59.19mm; diamter: 5.39mm; weight: 2.13g. Biddle argued that these objects were for making holes in parchment prior to ruling lines for…
Created on: Tuesday 23rd June 2015
Last updated: Thursday 7th March 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LON-BD4467
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete Medieval bone parchment pricker, dating 13th-14th century. The object is formed of a tapering shank with an ovoid head at the widest end. At both ends there are small recesses. The recess on the head would have aided the decoration of the shank using a compass whilst the recess on the opposite end would have held an iron point. There is a line engraved around the widest end of the shank and below are a series of three triple-lines, evenly spaced along the first quarter of the shank. The parchment pricker has a mid-dark brown pattination and the iron pin is no longer pres…
Created on: Tuesday 6th January 2015
Last updated: Thursday 5th February 2015
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LON-9AB955
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete medieval to post medieval ivory stylus or parchment pricker dating 13th-16th century. The stem is narrow at the base, flaring slightly before narrowing to form a grip. The stem then flares again before tapering to the knop. The knop consists of a small bead at the top, two larger beads and a smaller bead at the bottom. There is a recess at the base of the stylus which contains the remains of the iron point.. No exact parallel can be found for this example, but there are several bone styli of medieval date in Egan (1998, 272). Dimensions: length: 56.85 mm; thickness…
Created on: Wednesday 19th March 2014
Last updated: Thursday 7th March 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SWYOR-117BC7
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: North Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A cast, copper alloy possible parchment-pricker, of uncertain date but probably medieval or early post-medieval. It has a circular shaft (4.7mm in diameter) topped by a globular terminal 7.31mm in diameter. In the centre of the shaft is a pair of simple moulded collars, and at the base is a terminal which is square in section, with two collars on it. Projecting below this is a tapering, pointed circular-sectioned spike, of a smaller diameter than the shaft. This point may have been user as a stylus, or perhaps a parchment pricker. The object has a smooth dark green patina. Objects …
Created on: Thursday 24th January 2013
Last updated: Thursday 7th March 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LON-848144
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Published
A medieval or early post-medieval bone and iron parchment-pricker (13th - 16th century). It is made from a length of bone turned to form a tapering shaft with a rounded globular terminal at one end and an iron point embedded into the other end. There are bands of engraved lines around the terminal and just below the terminal on the shaft. On the peak of the globular terminal there is a small lentoid groove which is probably due to the composition of the bone rather than a decorative or functional feature. The tip of the parchment-pricker is quite crudely shaped with knife marks visibl…
Created on: Thursday 23rd July 2009
Last updated: Thursday 7th March 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LON-6439C1
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete medieval or early post-medieval ivory stylus, or parchment pricker (13th - 14th century). The stylus has an undecorated circular-sectioned shaft tapering at each end, with a carefully worked knop of two tiered circles and a final protruding point. At one side, a laminate layer has been removed or lost from the shaft, but wear has left the entire shaft uniform in appearance. At the bottom face of the shaft a fragment of what is probably iron remains embedded into the stylus handle. This is the scar of the point that would have served for either writing on wax or preparing…
Created on: Monday 15th June 2009
Last updated: Thursday 7th March 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LON-FA01A5
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Published
A Medieval bone parchment-pricker with iron tip (AD 13th - 16th century). The bone shaft tapers towards the end that is socketed to secure the iron tip. At the opposite end there is a globular terminal with a collar at the junction between the terminal and the shaft. Biddle argued that these objects were for making holes in parchment prior to ruling lines for text (1990, 733-5). Riddler (in Egan 1988: 272) disagreed with this, seeing these objects as writing implements for use with waxed tablets, on the grounds that late medieval writing sets found in Hamburg, Germany include such …
Created on: Wednesday 13th June 2007
Last updated: Thursday 7th March 2019
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'City of London', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: LON-1FE276
Object type: PARCHMENT PRICKER
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Published
Turned bone stylus or parchment pricker, dating to the medieval period. The top end (knob) of the pricker is turned to form a globular shape with a rounded top which measures 6mm in diameter, with ridge around the bottom separating it from the shaft of the parchment pricker. The shaft is circular in cross-section and is undecorated and tapers towards the point; from 4mm to 2mm near the tip. At the pointed tip of the pricker is a iron tip which survives intact. See KENT-D9DEA7 for comparison.
Created on: Monday 22nd November 2004
Last updated: Thursday 7th March 2019
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'London bridge', grid reference and parish protected.