File:15th century Lead mould (FindID 185727).jpg

English: 15th century lead mould for producing decorative strap or book mounts. The mould is rectangular in plan and in cross-section, and appears to have two flat layers to it. The first layer is rectangular and has its centre cut out to the shape of the object intended to be cast. The void has four identical shapes, each being a square with an apex above terminating with a trefoil. Either side of the apex is a pointed extension. There remains some lead within in parts of the void indicating that the object was disposed of perhaps during a failed casting. Either side of the void is a small rivet hole which has iron corrosion around it. The rivet holes would have help to align the mould during casting. The iron corrosion suggests that the mould is in fact iron and covered with lead casting waste, however the object does not react with a magnet.

The second layer is either a flat backplate with casting waste on the outer surface, or perhaps the reside from an exploded or failed casting. The outer surface is irregular and 'melted' in appearance.

There is a casting flue in the centre of the side of the base, and a moulded lip along the lower left hand side of the base, presumably to act as a guide plate. The mould is broken in two roughly down the centre.

The mould is quite large and so the products would be more appropriate for large straps or as furniture mounts. Similar style yet smaller silver mounts are known on a strap from Budapest, now in the Ungarishes Nationalmuseum (Ilse Fingerlin, 1971, Gurtel des hohn und spaten Mittelalters, p 326, pl 362, Kat. Nr. 54)