https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/templates/general_wide/img/logo.png https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/miscellaneous.html https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/miscellaneous/helmet-rosette-59083.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 19:45:44 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A British Army helmet rosette - a copper-alloy fitting in the form of a Tudor rose. The back of the rosette has a threaded stud (now flattened), which would have been fitted through the side of the helmet and secured internally with a threaded washer. A small blunt hook protrudes from the periphery of the rose for attachment of the chin strap.
Category:		Post-Medieval to Modern, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/miscellaneous/product-label-sample-or-test-piece-59064.html Wed, 10 Dec 2025 12:02:47 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A rectangular dish-shaped lead object tentatively identified as a lead producer's product label, sample or test piece. The object is very similar to several that have been recorded on the PAS database, and which are now considered along with it here (see Image 3 and links below). All have been cast in moulds as plain dish-shaped ingots and subsequently stamped internally on the base with either letters or a number within a rectangular frame. The present object is stamped with the number 56 in a rectangular frame, all in counter-relief. The impression has penetrated the base and is clearly visible (but reversed as viewed) on the underside. All specimens are stamped in a similar way, but the extent to which the design penetrates the base varies considerably depending on the thickness of the base and the surface on which the object was supported when stamped. All finds were made within, or close to, just two geographical areas, the Derbyshire Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales, historically two of the primary lead-mining areas of England. For approximate findspots, see Image 4. Discussion As indicated above, the identification of the object is tentative, and there are other possibilities, most notably that it could be a mould for casting. As such, it would only be suitable for casting low-melting-point materials such as wax patterns for use in the lost-wax casting process. A related suggestion is that it could be a die for impressing clay to make a ceramic stamp for marking other clay items before firing. In both of the above cases, however, efforts to trace any resulting end-products have proved fruitless. An additional point is that all the specimens considered have been found in just two geographical areas, which would be unusual unless there was a specific association with a particular local industry. It is also noted that all the PAS records of specimens from the Yorkshire Dales are annotated thus: "Research by PAS volunteers suggests that these objects may be assay test pieces or “proving pigs” from lead mining. It is suggested that smelters and buyers needed proof of the quality and yield of ore, so miners might present a small lead item as a sample to act as a proof. It is reported that 19th century records of the Derbyshire and Yorkshire lead mines describe these touchmarks as having stamped initials or dates." Copyright Note Image 3 is a composite image of all objects referenced on this record. The individual images are derivatives of images from records published on the website of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) and are used under a CC By-SA licence. The use of images under this Creative Commons licence does not imply that the licence holder endorses any of the comments made, or opinions expressed, by the present website owner. Links to the PAS records and the stamped letters they bear are as follows: DENO-D23E16 (marked RE), DENO-D2318C (possibly marked SB), DENO-D21667 (marked HS or SH), DENO-D1DA13 (marked SH or HS), SWYOR-331E3A (marked WF), SWYOR-314882 (marked RC), SWYOR-30C26E (marked WT),  SWYOR-31FCF4 (marked with TP monogram), SWYOR-31A8B4 (marked IF) and SWYOR-31909E (marked M).
Category:		Post-Medieval to Modern, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/miscellaneous/valve-operating-lever-59034.html Sun, 23 Nov 2025 12:18:50 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A cast copper-alloy valve operating lever or trigger of the type found on spray guns, liquid dispensers and other pressurised equipment whose use required intermittent discharge or dispensation of their liquid contents. The pupose of the serrated edges and longitudinal grooves is uncertain, possibly purely decorative.
Category:		Post-Medieval to Modern, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/miscellaneous/belt-or-strap-rings-58971.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 20:18:22 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A group of six cast copper-alloy rings of varying sizes. All are flat, sub-rectangular in cross section and have bevelled edges, some of which show slight evidence of filing. Most rings of this type are believed to have been used to suspend items from waist belts or harness straps, but others furnished the frames of circular buckles. The rings were found in one area. For a more detailed discussion on rings of this type, see UKDFD 8331.
Category:		Post-Medieval to Modern, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/miscellaneous/pointer-hand-58952.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 12:13:07 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		The gilded copper-alloy hand of a pointer used for reading (see below). The object is moulded in the form of a right hand with a very long pointing forefinger, a short length of ribbed sleeve and a ruffle at the cuff. A hole for attachment to a handle is drilled through the wrist. See also PAS: IOW-881FEB, LIN-EEA138 and WILT-E7EA86. The style of the sleeve and cuff suggests that the object is no earlier than the Tudor period, but it is probably much later (see below). The PAS describes the likely use of these objects thus: "It is possible that these pointers are in fact a yad, a Jewish ritual pointer, also known as a Torah pointer, used by the reader to follow the text during the Torah reading from the parchment Torah scrolls. A Torah pointer ensures that the parchment is not touched during the reading." Note regarding possible age of object The appearance of the surviving gilt finish is reminiscent of that often seen on gilded buttons of the early 19th century, i.e. very superficial and yellowish in colour. The plating process used for these buttons was immersion in a non-electrolytic gold solution, known - at least in America - as 'dandelion water'. Dandelion water gilding preceded electrolytic gilding (first used in the 1840s) and superseded traditional fire gilding (using mercury). It can therefore be regarded as transitional and in use for a relatively short period of time between the end of the 18th century and the middle of the 19th century.
Category:		Post-Medieval to Modern, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/miscellaneous/hawking-vervel-58949.html Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:25:01 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A small washer-shaped silver hawking vervel. The vervel is engraved on one side only with the owner's name, Sr John Harpur (i.e. Sir John Harpur). The inscription is preceded by an uncertain initial mark, most likely a heraldic or other emblem associated with the owner or his family. The vervel would have belonged to the 2nd, 3rd or 4th Baronet of Calke Abbey, Derbyshire, all three of whom were named John Harpur. Their respective dates of birth and death are 1616-1669, 1645-1681 and 1679–1741. Hawking vervels were secured to the ends of the straps (jesses) around the hawk’s legs in falconry. They enabled the owners to be identified, so that lost birds could be returned to them.
Category:		Post-Medieval to Modern, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/miscellaneous/strainer-58944.html Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:35:09 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A sheet metal handle socket from a skimmer, described by the PAS as follows:  Fragments of a socket for a wooden handle (missing) from a copper-alloy bowl used for skimming fat from a cauldron. The socket is constructed from two pieces of sheet metal which have been riveted together with rolled sheet metal rivets,. The upper part has a tapering convex curve to it to accommodate a wooden handle. There is a single rivet/nail hole in the wider end of the cone. The sides of this piece are then bent out at right-angles and riveted to the lower piece of flat sheet metal. The object is in two pieces and incomplete.
Category:		Post-Medieval to Modern, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/miscellaneous/coin-impression-58853.html Sun, 14 Sep 2025 12:35:36 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		An impression in a lead disc of two different hammered coins or jetons. One side of the disc has a larger impression (26mm dia.), and the other side a smaller impression (20mm dia.). Unfortunately, neither impression is sufficiently clear to identify the coin or jeton. Other impressions of coins in lead discs are recorded as UKDFD 17912, UKDFD 20957 and UKDFD 27508.
Category:		Post-Medieval to Modern, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/miscellaneous/barbed-peg-58710.html Mon, 21 Jul 2025 10:33:14 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A forged iron peg, most likely for tethering. The peg has a flattened spherical head and a long shaft of varying cross-section, originally with a pointed end. The uppermost portion of the shaft, approximately one-fifth of its length, is sub circular in section, but the remainder is rectangular and tapers in both planes to the pointed end. The lower half of the shaft has three sets of barbs equally spaced along the length, each set created by four deeply chiselled cuts to the four corners of the rectangular section at the respective axial position. The pointed end of the shaft has impacted a solid object which has caused burring of the tip.
Category:		Post-Medieval to Modern, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/miscellaneous/shackle-58579.html Tue, 15 Apr 2025 18:40:50 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A small copper-alloy shackle, the exact use of which is uncertain. See also UKDFD 47055.
Category:		Post-Medieval to Modern, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

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