MEDIEVAL CLIP

1300

A copper-alloy clip, its total length is 20mm. It consists of a circular ring, which is 12mm in external diameter and 7mm in internal diameter. Bent around this ring is a flat rectangular-shaped copper-alloy strip. The terminals of this strip flare into larger rectangles, one terminal is longer than the other and is 8mm in length and 4mm in width, the other one is 3mm in length and 5mm in width. The terminals have been pinched together to fasten the strip to the ring. An almost identical parallel for this clip, of the same size and proportions appears in Biddle (1990, p1094, No, 4104) and is dated to the mid 14th century. The function of clips such as these is unclear, they may have been riveted to belts or straps and used to carry small knives, or maybe miniature carrying handles on casks, or come from the covers of chained books.