POST MEDIEVAL BRACELET

Unknown artist

A Post Medieval gold bracelet slide (AD c.1670-1710). The slide is oval and has been cast with an integral wall on the upper surface creating a cell which originally may have contained enamel or cloth. A scalloped pattern has been cast on the lower half of the cell wall. On the reverse are two integral loops; similar examples within the Museum of London were designed to be worn on a ribbon as a 'Memento Mori' bracelet. One of the loops is broken and only two stubs remain. Through the remaining loop there is an S-shaped link of gilded bronze. On the reverse a skull and cross bones has been engraved. Meriel Jeater, Curator identified parallels within the Museum of London's collections that span the date range c.1670-1710. These examples have an enamelled pattern or portrait on a silk background set within the compartment on the front of the slide. MOL accession numbers: A7509, A7517, A7511. Dimensions: length of S-shaped fastener: 12.84mm; length of oval slide: 19.92mm; complete length: 32.76mm; width: 16.68mm; thickness: 1.56mm; weight: 1.44g. As the bracelet is greater than 300 years old and is more than 10% gold it fulfils the requirements of the Treasure Act 1996.