File:Writing on Runic Tweezers Side A 3 (FindID 511213).jpg

English: The object is similar to a pair of tweezers in form, but one of the arms is broken off shorter than the other and both tips are missing; length of longer arm (side B), 53.5mm; length of shorter arm (side A), 41.6mm (max surviving); width 9.9mm (max). It consists of a tightly folded strip (or possibly two strips riveted together) tapering towards the remaining ends and close to the head it appears to have been pierced through by a copper rivet, traces of which survive, and traces of a circular outline round the rivet stubs on both sides suggest it may have had a domed head on each end of it. The arms are bowed and the head end is slightly bent down at the point where the arms meet. Both arms are lightly incised with inscriptions in Anglo-Saxon runic letters (see below). On both edges next to the 'fold' there is a slight depression in the metal. The exact function of the object is a little uncertain in view of the antique damage, although the inscriptions suggest it may possibly have had an ecclesiastical purpose, perhaps as tweezers or candle-snuffers used in church rituals.

Within incised linear borders, each arm is incised with a runic inscription, although parts of the surface have been lost or obscured by corrosion resulting in the loss of some details. Nevertheless, Professor John Hines has been able to identify the runes successfully and provide a reading of the texts to be more extensively discussed elsewhere, for which I am most grateful:-
Side A: + þecblœtsigubilwitfæddæ Side B: ondwerccagehwelchefænondecla

He further observes that the texts are remarkably close to a passage of three lines of verse in the Old English poem known as Azarias, translated as: Let the glories of the created world and everything made, the heavens and the angels, and the pure water, [and all the power of creation upon Earth], bless Thee, kind Father. The lines in turn represent a vernacular paraphrase of part of the Book of Daniel, 3:51ff about the three youths in the fiery furnace.

The form of the object is only very broadly comparable with a pair of tweezers from Reculver, Kent, dating to the 8th/9th century (D.M. Wilson, 1964, Anglo-Saxon Ornamental Metalwork 700-1100 in the British Museum, London, 161, no. 62, pl. 28, 62). But, on the basis of linguistic and runographic parallels, Professor Hines proposes a date range of c. AD 725-825 for the inscription.

The item was analysed by non-destructive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy using an Artax micro-XRF spectrometer on the uncleaned metal at a number of points in order to determine the approximate alloy composition. The results are calibrated with known-composition standards:-

Analysis position 1. White metal tip of short arm
Approximate %Silver = 93, copper = 2, gold = 2, lead = 2
Other elements: iron, trace of zinc

Analysis position 2. Dark metal on aide of the top
Approximate %Silver = 77, copper = 8, gold = 2, lead = 2
Other elements: iron, tin, tr. zinc

Analysis position 3. Dark metal tip of long arm
Approximate %Silver = 65, copper = 23, gold = 1, lead = 1
Other elements: iron, tin, tr. zinc

Analysis position 4. Green spot, centre top - ?rivet
Approximate %Silver = 1, copper = 96
Other elements: iron, tr. zinc, gold

Analysis position 5. Higher are around ?rivet
Approximate %Silver = 71, copper = 19, gold = 1, lead = 1
Other elements: iron, tin, tr. zinc

Analysis position 6. Lower surface area
Approximate %Silver = 5, copper = 37, gold = 20, lead = 44
Other elements: iron

Analysis position 7. Flake of gold
Approximate %Silver = 3, copper = 6, gold = 91

Non-destructive analysis has determined that the item is made of a silver alloy containing more than 30% silver. There are some areas much richer in silver, perhaps a deliberate surface enhancement. The nature of this surface layer cannot be determined non-destructively. There are some traces of gilding. No traces of mercury were found in the gilding, which appears to be gold leaf or foil.