Accession No

1923.1601


Description

Copper alloy purse bar with globular central block and vertical swivel with ovoid suspension ring. Exterior surface of suspension ring features niello-inlaid decoration of four parallel lines arranged in two groups at a forty-five-degree angle, bound top and bottom by two horizontal lines. Bar arms emerge from a pair of abstracted animal heads abutting the central block; each arm features an underslung elongated flange, each pierced with two stitch-holes for attaching a fabric purse; the end of each arm terminates in a swivel to which the purse frame would have been attached, one swivel is missing. The outer two-thirds of each bar arm features a niello-inlaid double-strand lattice decoration with incised zigzags in the interstitial diamonds.


Place

Europe


Period

Medieval 15th century


Source

Ryan (Lady) [donor]; Redfern, William Beales [collector]


Department

Arch


Reference Numbers

1923.1601


Cultural Affliation


Material

Metal; Copper Alloy; ?Bronze; Niello


Local Term


Measurements

172mm


Events

Description (Physical description)
Top of a gipciere (?gipser) or purse, bronze
Event Date
Author: maa


Context (Analysis)
This purse bar can be characterised as part of a ‘Class A1’ purse as described in David Williams. (2018). Copper-alloy Purse Components. The Finds Research Group (Datasheet 50).
Event Date 8/11/2023
Author: Zahni Blumenthal


Description (Physical description)
Copper alloy purse bar with globular central block and vertical swivel with ovoid suspension ring. Exterior surface of suspension ring features niello-inlaid decoration of four parallel lines arranged in two groups at a forty-five-degree angle, bound top and bottom by two horizontal lines. Bar arms emerge from a pair of abstracted animal heads abutting the central block; each arm features an underslung elongated flange, each pierced with two stitch-holes for attaching a fabric purse; the end of each arm terminates in a swivel to which the purse frame would have been attached, one swivel is missing. The outer two-thirds of each bar arm features a niello-inlaid double-strand lattice decoration with incised zigzags in the interstitial diamonds.
Event Date 8/11/2023
Author: Zahni Blumenthal


FM:49935

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