POST MEDIEVAL DRESS FASTENER (DRESS)

1500

An early Post Medieval cast copper alloy Hook Tag clothing fastener, circa 16th - 17th century. Read class E, type 3 circular and mould relief decorated.The fastener has a strap loop at one end, a circular centre with a raised portrait of a bearded face within a rope work border, and a hook at the other end. The bearded face is popularly believed by recorders to be that of John the Baptist. The fastener unfortunately broke in two on discovery, but measures fairly accurately as having a length of 34.0mm, width 13.5mm, thickness 1.7mm, and weighs 2.7g. The tag's metal work has a bright green patina.A similar example may be found on the Database, CAM-739B37.See Read, B., 2008 Hooked-Clasps and Eyes Langport : Portcullis Publishing, 87-118, no's.324-328.