File:Cast in one piece, gilded copper alloy book clasp of Medieval date, probably fourteenth century. (FindID 79168).jpg

English: Complete cast copper alloy gilded book-clasp of Medieval date, probably the second half of the fourteenth century. Length 44.5mm, width 12.5mm and 7mm thick. Weight 8.65g.

The attachment end is hollow and almost rectangular (17mm in length, 12.5mm wide and 3.6mm thick) although the sides flare gently outwards towards the end and the edges are at right angles to the faces. The front face of the attachment end has an engraved border, inside of which is an engraved stylised human mask with a severe expression. The mouth is slightly down-turned and its right eye appears closed. At the extreme attachment end is a single copper alloy rivet which is slightly off-centre. There is some old damage on the rear adjacent to where the rivet penetrates. Beyond this rectangular end and at an angle of about 5º is a hollow lozenge-shaped element which has an oval “peg” hole on the underside. The sides of the lozenge are about 9mm in length and the edges are at right angles to the face. The peg hole is 4mm x 3mm. At the front face of this element is an engraved lozenge inside of which, is an engraved motif that resembles a stylised flower of four petals with a central pellet. Beyond this element is a terminal that is roughly triangular in plan and is in the shape of a stylised animal head. The tip of the terminal forms a snout which is transversely pierced to hold a separate and free-running copper alloy ring which has an external diameter of about 7mm. The ring is circular in cross-section. The clasp appears to be cast in one piece excepting the ring and the rivet. There are traces of gilding on the front, rear and edges.