File:12th century decorative boss (FindID 973688).jpg

English: An incomplete embossed and etched coated copper-alloy medieval decorative boss from a reliquary or book, executed in Romanesque style dating c.12th century AD.

Description: The boss is circular and domed in plan with a flat flange as a border. The border is incomplete with four cardinally opposed rivet holes. The flanged border has a double incised chevroned border but is missing roughly a quarter of its circumference. The main boss has five small embossed dimples, four cardinally aligned ones in similar alignments to the flange rivet holes, there is a fifth dimple at the centre. Each of the cardinally aligned dimples is at the centre end of a rounded leaf with feathered/hatched edges. The area between each of the lines is pseudotriangular, with similar border picked out similarly to the leaves. The reverse is undecorated and unfurnished, with some verdigris and iron corrosion adhering.The boss is incomplete and the upper boss has been squashed and warped.

Measurements: 59.86mm in diamter, 5.15mm high and 10.59g in weight.

Discussion: The decorative elements of this object, the chevron border and hatching in open spaces is typical of Romanesque art and metalwork of the late 11th-12th century. The exact identity of this object is uncertain, the very rough reverse implies it was never intended to be seen. The object bares similarities in form to a type of long lasting reliquary fitting which evolved during the early-Medieval period, with some noted examples such as the famed <a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=93679&partId=1&searchText=reliquary&images=true&page=5">Steeple Bumpstead Boss</a>. Also the flange and central raised area si similar to Limoges reliquary bosses with rock crystal settings. It is possible that this object relates to a book cover or similar with a number of 12th century gospels also being decorated with bosses and inlaid gems etc.