SADDLE 603443

Description: A Post-Medieval (1500-1700) incomplete cast copper-alloy saddle pommel, consisting of one half only. It would originally have had a matching element in mirror-image, the two of which were probably soldered together. The surviving half is an inverted U-shape in plan, with a section cut off diagonally with an attachment wing below. It is convex, open semicircular in cross-section and has a low ridge around the edge which would have met the matching element. Six fairly equally spaced longitudinal/diagonal grooves decorate the outside surface, roughly following the shape of the object. The wing is slightly curving (the end curving upwards a little) and c.20mm in length. It has two attachment holes 3.2mm in diameter. The longer edge of the object also has a semi-circular hole, presumably also for attachment purposes, 3.8mm in diameter and with wear to the outside edge. A small area of possibly iron corrosion is apparent inside the curved end of the object. In colour the pommel has a dusting of light-green corrosion product over a red-brown metal. Measures 57.26mm in length, the U-shaped element on its own being c.48mm in height. Its width is 29.64mm and the depth 15.82mm (inclusive of wing c.27mm). The thickness of the metal is c.3mm. It weighs 32.39g. A two-piece pommel can be found illustrated in Read (1995, 127; ref. 808).

Date: 1500 - 1700

Object type: SADDLE

Last import: August 15, 2017