MEDIEVAL PURSE

1450

A Type A1 medieval purse bar made of copper-alloy with inlaid niello. This purse bar dates to the Late 15th century. It has a circular loop, which has been cast as one with the shank. The shank ends with a (possibly separate) hemispherical rove. There is a lot of internal wear at the top of the loop. On the external edge of the loop at a 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock position there are two double oblique lines of the usual kind (engraved and infilled with niello), these have a pair of transverse lines above and below. The block is small with double strand criss-cross engraving on one of the larger faces and on the other side there is a single cross - all inlaid with niello. The bar has circular section arms partly decorated with double criss-cross engraving filled with niello. Either side of the block there is a very stylised animals head with open mouth, from which the arms emerge. The first 17mm (from the block) of the arms are undecorated. After this (on both arms) there is an area where the arms have been decorated with double strand criss-cross engravings, this decoration extends to the end of the bar. The whole section, which is decorated with the criss-cross design, begins and ends with a double transverse line. All lines are engraved and inlaid with niello. Beneath the area with criss-cross lines there are integral plates (one on each arm), each drilled with two holes. All of the holes have now broken through. At the ends of the arms the cross section changes a much narrower (but still sub-circular) cross section. One end is almost completely missing, due to an old break. The other one is complete and would have once held a terminal. The narrow sectioned part and the terminal would have held the frame in place.