263 (37)

Mounts

235

1266

1267

' •I

Ashmolean Museum collection

150 Top, composite loops;

bottom, buckie with strap loop (1:1)

the late 13th century to the end of the 14th century; the first of these types (nos. 1229-34) may predominate in the early part of this period, and the second seems to become morę popular towards the end, but the number of examples from which these inferences are drawn is very smali.

The similarity of the tops of the morę decora-tive examples (eg no. 1263, fig 149) to some bar-mounts may suggest that matching items from the two categories were used together ensuite, though the only object on which they appear together has very diverse forms (fig 138, bottom).

The enigmatic composite objects (nos. 1266-68) seem so far to be confined to the late 14th century. No strap loop among the recently exca-vated groups is known from a context assigned to the 15th century. The manufacturing evidence from the Copthall Avenue site, which includes both strap loops and buckie frames, underlines the close connection between these items.

SPANGLES

(Peter Stott)

Spangles were manufactured in moulds from a tin-lead alloy often of approximately 60% tin and 40% lead, a mixture meriting the term pewter (nos. 1270 & 1280 analysed, AML; cf Mitchiner and Skinner 1983, 46). Although no moulds have been discovered, it is elear from their finish and from reference to contemporary items in lead-tin that this was their method of manufacture. They