BOOK FITTING 807084

Description: An incomplete late medieval cast copper-alloy book clasp of Howsam type A.9.2 (14th century). The object consists of a rectangular 'box chape' or hollow plate, integral with a lozengiform element from which extends at its other end a moulded zoomorphic terminal, now incomplete. The attachment end (box chape) is hollow and U-shaped with sides; the top however is missing. This would have been a sheet copper alloy plate. Solder can be see on the upper edges of the sides, to fix the missing plate in place. At the open end are two rivet holes, obscured inside the box by iron corrosion and only visible to the reverse. The box chape measures 17.2mm in length, 15.1mm wide at the open end (narrowing to 13.7mm at the other end) and stands 3.5mm high. The lozenge-shaped element is apparently hollow, evident by the central circular 'peg' hole on the underside. On the upper surface of this element is a smaller moulded lozenge with a engraved motif. It is rather worn but appears to resemble a stylised cross or flower. Below and beyond is the zoomorphic terminal, triangular in shape and moulded at the sides in the shape of a stylised animal head, possibly a dragon. The tip of the terminal forms a snout which is transversely pierced (2.3mm diameter) and worn through to the upper side. This would have held a separate and free-running copper alloy ring. The clasp would have been attached to the end of a strap on one cover of a book and the hole in the underside would have fitted over a peg fixed to the other cover. A ring at the end may have taken a cord to make it easier to pull the clasp on and off the peg. The clasp measures 40.7mm in length, 15.2mm in max.width, 6.4mm in max.thickess (at the moulded lozenge) and weighs 5.84g. Similar book clasps have been recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database from Mistley Parish in Essex, Morton Parish in Lincolnshire, Tilford Parish in Surrey and Worfield Parish in Shropshire. See finds HAMP-C0F9E7, SF7379, SUR-9222A1, HAMP1901 and HESH-CE2816. Fingerlin (1971) dates them to the second half of the 14th century, but her grounds for assigning such a narrow date-range are unclear. This record is heavily based on HAMP-C0F9E7, written by Rob Webley.

Date: 1350 - 1400

Object type: BOOK FITTING

Last import: September 22, 2022