POST MEDIEVAL VESSEL

1500

Fragment of the base of a cast lead alloy vessel with a longitudinal casting seam up the side of the body of the vessel and incised vertical parallel lines along the edge of the base ring. Within the ring, the base extends inwards, suggesting that it was flat and that this is not a rim fragment. The curvature of the base suggests a diameter of about 32 mm, which expanded, possibly in both directions, from this ring. The diameter is quite tapered, suggesting that it may be the base of the body of the vessel, which then narrowed into a pedestal that was about the same diameter and then expanded into the base of the pedestal, which would have better supported the vessel. Without more of the vessel, it is difficult to say if this is part of a ewer or another container like a flagon, and also difficult to date it. The incised rim may be copying crimped or pinched bases seen on glassware or ceramic vessels from the late Medieval period onwards.See record LON-6187A1 for a small lead alloy salt pot with a similarly incised rim, which is dated from the 17th century.Egan (2005) illustrates a similar pedestal base, with an everted foot, and a drawing of a ewer on page 100, fig.86, nos.455 & 456a, which are dated from c.1500-1700 and 1500-1550 respectively.