348 (30)

321

Pendants

This category covers a diverse rangę of items, some of which coułd have stood alone as personal omaments, such as earrings, while others may have been elements of composite jewellery, such as bracelets and necklaces. Complete surviving examples definitely from the latter two categories are absent from the recently found assemblages (though see parallel for nos. 1602-04, fig 211, and no. 1591 under Chains). Earrings and necklaces are not common in contemporary artistic repre-sentations from the early part of this period, and this is reflected in the concentration of the major-ity of the items listed below in the early 15th century or just before.

Copper alloy

1600    BIG82 acc. no. 3047 (context 3347) ceramic phase 7 fig 211

Nick Griffiths writes:

Triangular, 34x36mm; gilded copper (AML); the base has a scalloped edge with four indentations, from each of which a double linę of opposed, stamped triangles rises to the apex, where they stop below a double horizontal linę of smaller stamped marks; an angular projection at the top is pierced for suspension; the convex front has traces of gilding and a triple (originally ąuadruple) claw, held by an off-centred rivet. Copper-alloy pendants of this generał character are normally identified as coming from horse hamesses, and it is difficult to isolate examples which were certainly or probably items of personal adomment. These latter tend to be smali and to carry inscriptions of a romantic or talismanic naturę (Griffiths 1986, 2). The present pendant is the only one of this kind from the recent excavations that can be identified as of probable personal use, sińce the lost stone which the claw originally held makes it very unlikely that it was used on a horse hamess.

The only parallel known to the writer is a roughly triangular, gilded copper-alloy pendant with a blue cabochon (Tribbick 1974, 94 & fig 43 no. 30).

Lead-tin

1601    BWB83 5808 (298) 11 fig 211 Incomplete disc pendant; d 23mm; lead-tin (MLC); suspension loop at top; the device is a bird; very crude.

No other disc pendant with an apparently non-religious design has been traced from this period. Cf Mitchiner 1986, 168 no. 520, for an example with religious scenes.

Leaves

(See also sheet-iron examples no. 1189 listed under Mounts)

1602    SWA81 3400 (2082) 12 fig 211

1 20.5mm; asymmetrical tripartite leaf joined to a suspension loop; veining on both faces.

1603    SWA81 2033 (2106/2107) 12 fig 211 Incomplete; 1 19mm+; lead-tin (MLC); similar to preceding, but morę symmetrical and veined on the front only; oblique hatching flanks a central vertical rib on the back; coarser transverse ribbing appears on the front of each of the three parts.

The ribs on the back were produced by channels in the mould which may have served to help the metal flow evenly during casting; the ribbing on the front may have been intended to represent the natural curling of some leaves, such as oak.

1604    SWA81 760 (2097) 12

Incomplete, in two pieces; 1 c.22mm; similar to preceding but cruder, with radiating lines on back.

These leaves are highly stylised, and may not have been intended to represent any particular genus. Several parallels are known, eg Mitchiner 1986, 181 nos. 590-95, which are all similar to no. 1603 (the description of these as strawberry leaves is as erroneous as their attribution to the shrine of St Edward at Westminster); ibid 239 nos. 911-13 are pendent leaves of different types.

A lead/tin necklace or similar accessory (MoL acc. nos. 86.362 & 86.408/1 - acąuired in two pieces) has seven surviving pendant leaves (?of an original eight) and two bells, see fig 211. The leaves in this case somewhat resemble field mapie {acer campestre), though there was probably no intention to represent a particular spe-cies. Cf Mitchiner ibid, 215 no. 780 - a fragment, which has only a pendant beli surviving.