POST MEDIEVAL BUTTON

1600

An unusually large copper-alloy hollow button of 17th century date. The button is formed of three parts and resembles a miniature crotal bell with the exception that there is an absence of sound holes joined by a slit in the lower half. The button is sub-spherical in shape. The upper and lower halves of the button are sheet metal hemispheres, soldered together and undecorated. The lower half has a central attachment loop and a two perforations (blow holes), one on either side of the loop. The perforations are irregularly circular and have diameters of 3.5mm and 2.9mm. Where the two pieces of sheet join, a thin line of silver coloured solder can be seen. There is also white metal round the base of the attachment loop. The loop is 5.6mm in diameter and is 2.4mm thick. Material inside the button rattles, but this is assumed to be dirt rather than a pea or clapper in a bell. Similar examples of buttons can be seen in Bailey, G. 2004, p.78. A very similar object is SWYOR-018C32. Compare also the smaller examples: SOM-CB1313 and HAMP-A7F107 which cite Read (2005, 85).