PURSE 153710

Description: Medieval purse bar of mid 15th century date. The central boss and side bars are decorated with an incised lattice pattern inlaid with niello. The side bars are oval in cross section, both bars having a worn break at the end where a terminal knob would have originally been located. The (missing) purse frames would have been attached to the bar just before the terminal knobs. Each bar has a narrow, rectangular projection at its base, with three circular perforations which would have acted as attachment points for the purse. The bars have a moulded animal head at their junction with the central boss. The central boss is sub-rectangular, with a circular hole running vertically through the middle, where a swivelling suspension loop would have originally been attached. The purse bar has a greenish-black patina. The surface is worn. The purse bar is 138.24mm long, the central boss has a diameter of 7.93mm and the arms are approximately 28mm thick. It weighs 68.69 grams.

Date: 1450 - 1550

Object type: PURSE

Last import: August 15, 2017