https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/templates/general_wide/img/logo.png https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact.html https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/jewellery-and-dress-accessories/brooches/twisted-frame-brooch-59256.html Sun, 10 May 2026 15:00:17 GMT Brooches  

Description:		A 'twisted frame' or 'love knot' brooch, fabricated from two lengths of drawn wire; the ends of the wires have triangular terminals. Applied to the frame is a circular plate with a red glass cabochon at the centre, which is surrounded by an outer border of thirteen small cells that probably held cut glass stones of a contrasting colour. The fastening device is missing.
Category:		Post-Medieval to Modern, Jewellery and dress accessories, Brooches
Category:		Brooches

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/brooches/bow-brooches/colchester-two-piece-brooch-59248.html Mon, 04 May 2026 13:23:41 GMT Bow brooches  

Description:		A Colchester two-piece bow brooch of the early Roman period. It is of the type with a double-pierced lug for the spring mechanism, the lower perforation to hold the spring's axis bar, and the upper one to secure its chord. It has short semi-cylindrical wings and a humped bow, which is triangular in cross-section; the spring mechanism and lower bow with catchplate are missing.
Category:		Roman, Brooches, Bow brooches
Category:		Bow brooches

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/crotal-bells/crotal-bell-59244.html Sat, 02 May 2026 13:32:18 GMT Crotal bells  

Description:		A cast copper-alloy crotal bell with integral suspension loop and complete with intact iron pellet ('pea clapper') inside the bellchamber. The suspension loop is rectangular with a circular aperture. Both halves of the bellchamber are decorated with a multi-petalled flower design, and there is a bell-founder's hammer symbol in an escutcheon on one side of the sound slot.
Category:		Post-Medieval to Modern, Crotal bells
Category:		Crotal bells

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/crotal-bells/crotal-bell-59245.html Sat, 02 May 2026 14:28:01 GMT Crotal bells  

Description:		A cast copper-alloy crotal bell with intact iron pellet ('pea-clapper') inside the bellchamber. The integral suspension loop is rectangular, with an as-cast sub-rectangular aperture. The upper half of the bellchamber is plain; the lower half has vestigial traces of linear decoration, but it is very indistinct.
Category:		Post-Medieval to Modern, Crotal bells
Category:		Crotal bells

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/early-medieval/mounts/mount-fragment-59239.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:12:55 GMT Mounts  

Description:		A fragment of a decorated and gilded copper-alloy mount (or strap fitting) of the early Anglo-Saxon period. The fragment is of irregular shape, and its original extent and form are uncertain. The front has 'chip-carved' decoration incorporating disarticulated animal parts, and possibly a hidden (fox-like) face, characteristics of Salin Style I. The back is plain, but has three projecting copper-alloy rivets or studs in a near-equilateral triangular arrangement. Some of the original gilt finish survives on the front.  See also side knob from 6th century florid cruciform brooch, UKDFD 57340, for comparable elements of Style I decoration.
Category:		Early Medieval, Mounts
Category:		Mounts

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/clasps/hooked-clothes-fasteners/hooked-clothes-fastener-59238.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:21:08 GMT Hooked clothes fasteners  

Description:		A one-piece single sharp-hooked clasp of the early post-medieval period. The plate is circular, with moulded relief and openwork decoration. The design is an equal-armed cross within a linear circle. The cross has a pellet at the centre and circular openwork decoration in the quadrants, which now appears to be blocked, or possibly unfettled. The edge of the plate is beaded and engrailed.  The sharp rearward-facing hook is present; the rectangular attachment loop is missing.
Category:		Post-Medieval to Modern, Clasps, Hooked clothes fasteners
Category:		Hooked clothes fasteners

]]> 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

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