Medieval Lead Weight Collection

Including a jar with scalloped foot, a piriform juglet, footed pot with handle, small jar with remaining handle, likely bird water feeder and a stamped tripod dish; most glazed; most chipped or cracked. 3.3 kg total, 10-18 cm



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.

The salt-glazed stoneware jugs, like some of the specimens here presented, had a distinctive pitted ‘orange-skin’ surface. These tall jugs often have grooves around their bodies to support them during the high-temperature firing which was necessary to achieve the hard fabric. First imported into Britain in the early 14th century stone wares became common in the 16th and 17th centuries. Most came from production centres in the Rhineland, notably Cologne, Frechen, Langerwehe, Raeren and Westerwald.

With spurs to the shoulders, trumpet-shaped bezel, intaglio design of a stork amid reeds with a star above. 9.74 grams, 26.09 mm overall, 18.06 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M 1/2, USA 6 1/4, Europe 13.09, Japan 12)



From the collection of Alan Hardcastle. Ex property of an Essex gentleman. Ex private Merseyside, UK, collection.

Comprising a single cutting edge; scale tang with pommel formed as a bifacial crown with incised detailing; Netherlands. 31 grams, 18.3 cm



Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.

Knife handles can be classified according to their method of attachment into whittle and scale-tang handles. Whittle-tang handles were the most common type used in the early medieval period. Whittle tang handles (like here) were more common later and fixed by pushing the pointed end of the knife tang into the handle.