TREASURE ANNU AL REPORT 2005/6 - Portable Antiquities Scheme

558. Thornbury, south Gloucestershire:
14th–15th-century silver terminal, possibly a
lace chape (2005 T513) pAs ID: GLo-D9C5b2
Found by Mr G Heritage while metal-detecting in
October 2005; disclaimed, returned to finder.
J P ROBINSON
(XII) oThER objECTs
559. Edgefield, Norfolk: medieval silver hairpin
(2006 T358)
Date: Late 11th–12th century
Discovery: Found by Mr S Gray while metal-detecting
in April 2006.
Description: A silver hairpin with an incomplete
globular head, collar and round-sectioned hipped shank.
At the top two stubs of a missing loop are encircled by
an engraved groove and the remainder of the head is
decorated in a rough lattice pattern of engraved lines
with a tiny cross in two of the lozengiform spaces
therein. The collar is enhanced with a continuous row
of vertical grooves. Min. length: 2.3mm; diameter of
head: 4.5mm; weight: 0.70g.
Discussion: Similar, short, hipped pins in copper alloy
and bone have been identified at Winchester (Biddle
1990, 554, fig. 150 nos. 1437–8), and Castle Acre Castle
(Goodall 1982, fig. 44, no. 48) for example. Margeson
(1993) cites numerous other examples, many from
high status sites, suggested that they were too short
for use as dress-pins and were probably employed in
headdresses, to decorate braids or secure veils. It is
clear, from the contexts of many such pins, that they
were current in the late eleventh and twelfth centuries.
Disposition: Norwich Castle Museum.
A ROGERSON
560. harlow Area, Essex: 14th-century incomplete
silver pin with globular head (2006 T583)
pAs ID: Ess-0148A8
Found by Mr G Springham while metal-detecting in
August 2006; disclaimed, returned to finder.
C McDONALD
561. urchfont, Wiltshire:
medieval gold chain or collar section (2005 T442)
Date: Late 14th–15th century
Discovery: Found by Mr B Read while metal-detecting
in October 2005.
Description: A component part from a Medieval
chain or collar, which consists of two conjoined letters
‘S’. One letter is left plain, while the central part
of its partner is decorated with punch marks. Four
attachment hoops are arranged at each corner of the
unit, and one link remains for the attachment to the
rest of the chain. The remainder of the chain is likely to
have consisted of successive units of such pairs.
Discussion: Collars of letters ‘S’ were developed as part
of the livery of John of Gaunt in the late 14th century
and persisted in use as a sign of Lancastrian support
until at least the mid-15th century.
Disposition: Wiltshire Heritage Museum.
J P ROBINSON
562. Long stratton, Norfolk:
Two medieval silver-gilt badges (2005 T568)
Date: Early 15th century
Discovery: Found by Mr A Kedge while metal-detecting
in 2004 (1) & November 2005 (2).
Description: Two silver-gilt openwork badges of St
George slaying the dragon, probably contemporary and
possibly part of an elaborate set.
1. The saint is holding a scimitar and an elaborate
shield displaying his cross, the pointed base inserted
into the dragon’s open mouth. Both feet stand on
the horizontal body of the dragon, and a short,
possibly broken, spike projects up from the top of his
helmet and may once have formed a hook or loop for
attachment. However, there is also an irregular, possibly
double, scar in the centre of the reverse, perhaps from
an attachment loop. Dimensions: 11 x 23mm;
weight 3.27g.
St George’s shield is sub-rectangular with concave sides
and double-concave upper edge and base. This form
of shield first appears during the second half of the
14th century, and becomes more popular in the 15th
century. The rather appropriately Eastern form of sword
is also a late type.
2. The right arm of the saint is missing. A separate
applied lance has one end bent up onto St George’s
head, the other is bent down onto the wing of the
dragon, whose body curls under the horse’s hooves,
with its tail under the horse’s rear legs. There is a
suspension loop at the apex springing from the halo.
Dimensions: 13 x 19mm; weight 1.66g.
For comparison see Briston, Norfolk (Treasure Annual
Report 2001, no. 116).
Disposition: Norwich Castle Museum.
S J ASHLEY
563. Dalton, North yorkshire:
medieval silver hawking vervel (2006 T590)
Date: 15th century
Discovery: Found by Mr S Nelson while metaldetecting
in August 2006.
Description: A hawking vervel in the form of a flat
annular ring, engraved with foliate decoration on one
side and black letter inscription, possibly nre and one
other letter opposite it. On the other side, single black
letters, separated by small crosses or stars, read possibly
+ 3 II p r.
Discussion: The black letter inscription and foliate
decoration suggest the above date and can be
compared with contemporary finger-rings, for example
Southend-on-Sea, Essex (Treasure Annual Report 2003,
no. 182). The form can be compared with a later, 17thcentury
example from King’s Somborne, Hampshire
(Treasure Annual Report 2003, no. 283).
Vervels were used to connect leather jesses, attached
to the hawk’s legs, to the bird’s block when grounded.
Disposition: Yorkshire Museum hopes to acquire.
D THORNTON
564. south molton, Devon:
medieval silver huntsman’s whistle (2005 T22)
Date: 15th–16th century
Discovery: Found by Mr R Bennett while metaldetecting
in October 2002.
Description: A silver whistle cut from sheet and shaped
into a tapering form. It has two applied transverse
fillets at the widest end (the mouthpiece) and at the
opposite end, which is damaged. At this point, there
may have been a hollow cast sphere, with a ‘pea’ inside.
An elaborate swag or garland of cast silver is soldered
at three points and the whistle is surmounted by a
punched Lombardic ‘A’. Weight: 3.73g.
Discussion: A similar whistle is part of the collections
of the Somerset County Museums. Several are in the
collections of the Museum of London. Silver whistles
were used by huntsman, also for signalling at sea and
as badges of office. Those of base metal, such as tin or
pewter, may have been used as souvenirs, like pilgrim
badges.
Disposition: South Molton & District Museum, the
landowner’s share generously donated.
N POWELL
565. East Walton, Norfolk: medieval silver bullion or
apothecaries’ weight (2005 T270)
Date: Probably Medieval
Discovery: Found by Mr S Brown while metaldetecting
in June 2005.
Description: A cast silver object, possibly either
bullion or an apothecaries’ weight. It is square with a
humorous male human bust in high relief in the centre
of one face. The bust has suggestions of a mouth,
bulging cheeks, prominent nose, slightly protruding
eyes, a rounded protrusion on both sides and a small
pellet in the centre of the crown probably indicating
hair. The side edges are straight, the top concave and
the base a little irregular. Dimensions: 11 x 11mm;
thickness: 0.5mm; weight: 16 grains / 1.04g (16 grains
= two-thirds of a pennyweight / one thirtieth of 1oz
Troy / four-fifths of a scruple).
Disposition: Disclaimed, returned to finder.
A ROGERSON
566. binley, hampshire: 14th-century silver-gilt
band, perhaps a vessel collar, inscribed ‘+IAspAR X
mELCIoR X bA(?)LTu(?)sAR’ (2005 T406)
pAs ID: bERK-458106
Found by Mr M Langford while metal-detecting in
October 2005; Hampshire Museums Service had hoped
to acquire but withdrew; returned to finder.
J P ROBINSON
567. City of London: 14th-century silver biconvex
button (2005 T286) pAs ID: LoN-775CF2
Found by Mr T Pilson & Mr I Smith while metaldetecting
in December 2003; declared Treasure and
returned to finders.
F SIMPSON
568. bishopstone, herefordshire:
14th–15th-century gold fragment inscribed
‘IN mEmo…’ (2006 T9) pAs ID: hEsh-DD7672
Found by Mrs J Seeney & Mrs I James while gardening
in 1985; not Treasure, returned to finders.
P REAVILL
569. harston, Cambridgeshire: 15th-century silver
rumbler bell (2006 T398) pAs ID: pAs-280A53
Found by Mr J Baker while metal-detecting in June
2006; disclaimed, returned to finder.
D THORNTON
570. Graveley, hertfordshire: 15th-century silver
rumbler bell, crushed (2006 T439)
pAs ID: bh-00E682
Found by Mr M Bowles while metal-detecting in
September 2006; disclaimed, returned to finder.
D THORNTON
571. Thornbury, south Gloucestershire:
15th–16th-century silver bell, crushed (2006 T383)
pAs ID: GLo-D9D733
Found by Mr P Twinn while metal-detecting in April
2006; disclaimed, returned to finder.
K ADAMS
132 MEDIEVAL MEDIEVAL 133