https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/templates/general_wide/img/logo.png https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval.html https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/mounts/quatrefoil-mount-59296.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 10:46:20 GMT Mounts  

Description:		A quatrefoil-shaped mount of the medieval period, possibly from a book cover (see below). The mount has a hollow, conical central boss and four peripheral pierced lugs at the cardinal points. The exterior of the boss is decorated with eight triangular recesses, equally spaced and arranged radially, such that they create the effect of the mount having eight spokes. The peripheral lugs appear to be moulded in the form of devolved animal heads with angular, rearward-facing ears. All four, however, are broken across the piercing.  For protection against wear and tear, valuable books of the medieval period were adorned with matching conical or domed mounts that were placed at each corner, and often also in the centre, of the outer covers. See also UKDFD 57420.
Category:		Medieval, Mounts
Category:		Mounts

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/finger-rings/finger-ring-59293.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:58:27 GMT Finger rings  

Description:		A copper-alloy finger ring of the late medieval to early post-medieval period. The ring has a slender oval bezel and a hoop of D-shaped cross-section, which tapers slightly at the shoulders. The bezel is decorated with an incised motif in the form of a pentagram, or linear five-pointed star, within a border of multiple punched dots. The motif is possibly symbolic. In medieval times, the pentagram was regarded as a Christian symbol representing the Five Wounds of Christ and also as representing the five senses. For further details, see the 'Pentagram' entry on Wikipedia.
Category:		Medieval, Finger rings
Category:		Finger rings

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/mounts/shield-shaped-stud-59281.html Sat, 30 May 2026 09:14:23 GMT Mounts  

Description:		A small shield-shaped stud or mount of the medieval perriod. The stud is of typical heraldic 'heater shield' shape, the front of which is decorated with three horizontal grooves. Unfortunately, no enamel inlay or metal plating is present, so tracing the intended heraldic arms is not possible. The back of the stud has a circular-section integral rivet with peened end projecting rearwards from the centre.
Category:		Medieval, Mounts
Category:		Mounts

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/brooches/annular-brooch-59273.html Mon, 25 May 2026 12:12:53 GMT Brooches  

Description:		A complete annular brooch of the medieval period. The frame is plain and of uniform flat rectangular cross-section. It is locally narrowed at one point to fit and laterally locate the pin. The pin has a transverse ridge at the hinged end and tapers uniformly along its length to a blunt point.
Category:		Medieval, Brooches
Category:		Brooches

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/finger-rings/finger-ring-bezel-59235.html Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:12:28 GMT Finger rings  

Description:		A silver-gilt bezel from a medieval finger ring. The bezel is square with rediused corners and simple punched decoration. The decoration consists of a square spiral of dots with a cross at the centre, possibly representing a physical journey to a spiritual destination. The back of the bezel is diagonally recessed to accommodate the hoop such that it would have been orientated lozengewise to the finger when worn. The hoop would have been soldered in position, but is now missing.
Category:		Medieval, Finger rings
Category:		Finger rings

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/seal-matrices/seal-matrix-59233.html Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:06:05 GMT Seal matrices  

Description:		A vesica-shaped personal seal matrix of the medieval period. The intaglio design is difficult to interpret, but would appear to depict a fantastic flying quadruped with a human-head. The human head wears the hood of a jester or fool, most likely an allusion to the foolishness of man, which is found on many other seals of the time (e.g. UKDFD 12323). However, the detail of the hood is unusual; it is fashioned in the form of a bird-of-prey's head with hooked beak, which faces rearwards as worn. The Latin inscription is * S' THOME D' *LE GRENE - Seal of Thomas de le Grene. The back of the seal is plain except for a median rib, which terminates in a pierced suspension lug at one end. Origins of the de la Grene family name: The family name de la Grene (and its variants del Grene, de Grene) is of Anglo-Saxon origin, dating back to the late 12th century, with its roots primarily located in England. It is a locational surname that emerged from the Old English word "grene," referring to someone who lived near a village green, common land, or a grassy area.
Category:		Medieval, Seal matrices
Category:		Seal matrices

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/mounts/quatrefoil-mount-59234.html Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:33:22 GMT Mounts  

Description:		A quatrefoil-shaped mount of the medieval period, probably from a book cover. The mount has a hollow-domed central boss and four peripheral pierced lugs at the cardinal points. The boss is decorated in moulded relief with a central lozenge, around which there is an inner circle of four crescents and an outer circle of eight wedges.The wedges point alternately towards and away from the centre. One of the pierced lugs retains the corroded remnants of an iron rivet. For protection against wear and tear, valuable books of the medieval period were adorned with matching conical or domed mounts that were placed at each corner, and often also in the centre, of the outer covers. See also UKDFD 57420.
Category:		Medieval, Mounts
Category:		Mounts

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/seal-matrices/seal-matrix-59231.html Sun, 19 Apr 2026 15:19:22 GMT Seal matrices  

Description:		An oval copper-alloy seal matrix with tapering hexagonal-section handle surmounted by a lozenge-shaped suspension loop. The engraved device is a male human head in profile. The intended inscription is * CAPVT SERVI DEI - Head of a Servant of God, but the letters U and V - both the vowel and consonant were a single letter at the time - have been rendered as C, resulting in * CAPCT SERCI DEI. See also UKDFD 38944.
Category:		Medieval, Seal matrices
Category:		Seal matrices

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/thimbles/thimble-59223.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:10:12 GMT Thimbles  

Description:		A rimless domed copper-alloy thimble with manually produced circular indentations. The indentations are arranged in vertical lines on the lower part of the thimble, and in concentric circles around a central plain area on the top. The thimble also has a faint circumferential groove around the base. This type of thimble is often described as a ’skep’ or ‘beehive thimble’ on account of its shape.
Category:		Medieval, Thimbles
Category:		Thimbles

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/strap-ends/strap-end-59209.html Sat, 28 Mar 2026 16:33:09 GMT Strap-ends  

Description:		A composite three-piece strap-end comprising sheet front and back plates and a cast forked spacer. The attachment edge is straight and square, and the spacer has a single-collared, acorn-shaped terminal knop. There are two visible rivet holes with surviving copper-alloy rivets, one at the attachment end for retaining the strap, and one immediately above the knop for securing the front and back plates. There is possibly a second strap-retaining rivet closer to the attachment edge, but not discernible on the images. The front plate is decorated with a border of punch-marks; the back plate is plain.
Category:		Medieval, Strap-ends
Category:		Strap-ends

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