PURSE 90111

Description: Incomplete late medieval copper alloy purse bar of Ward-Perkins' type A1. It consists of one 'arm' of the bar only. It is 64mm in length and mostly c.8mm diameter in section (it narrows to 6.5mm just before the moulding, after which it returns to 8mm). Both ends are old breaks, the most curious of which is the end that would have extended to hold the frame. This is very well-worn and it is difficult to make out the projection at all. However the end is smooth and slightly lipped suggesting it might have been reused. At the opposite end, the break is after the diagonal rib on top and bottom and the circlar rib which precedes it. There is an area of decoration, pairs of incised lines in a criss-cross pattern that would have been inlaid with niello, around two thirds of the length of the arm, up to the curiously finished end. From a central point of the arm, a flange projects downwards with a rivet hole at either end. It is late medieval (15th century) in date. Weighs 25.29g.

Date: 1401 - 1500

Object type: PURSE

Last import: August 15, 2017