A purse frame, loop and bar with inscriptions; the bar with central D-shaped block pierced vertically by a stud surmounted by the suspension loop, with four pierced flanges to the underside; the frame in two sections, the larger a U-shaped rod with pivot for the bar, the smaller pivoting within the inner face, both pierced on the inner face; the block inscribed to one face with capital S and to the other with intersecting Vs; the bar inscribed to one face in capitals A DOMINI TECVM and to the other in coarsely incised capitals AVEMARIA GRAIAPLE; the smaller rod inscribed in capitals CREATOREN CELI ET TERRE ET INFERVN; the larger inscribed with a band of scrolled decoration and the text in Lombardic capitals SOLI DEO HONOR ET GLORIA.

PROVENANCE:
The 1847 letter describes the findspot as"found at Kirkleavington near Yarm in the sill of a brook" in the North Riding of Yorkshire; an accompanying label describes it as "found in constructing the Leeds and Thirsk Railway, near Kirkleavington, Co. York. Communicated by John Bourne, Esq. Engineer to the Company, Leeds".

LITERATURE:
Accompanied by a manuscript letter of September 17th 1847 from Mr. Histon Longstaffe discussing the text, with later amendments date 1854.

FOOTNOTES:
The accompanying letter discusses the texts (1) Ave Maria G[r]acia ple[n]a Dominus Tecum "Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord [is] with thee"; (2) Soli Deo Honor et Gloria "Honour and glory to God alone"; (3) Creatorem celi et terrae et inferum "creator of heaven and earth and the lower [place]". The intersecting Vs may form a monogram for A[ve] M[aria].