File:Medieval purse frame (front and back view) (FindID 135103).jpg

English: A complete cast copper alloy purse frame and swivel, dating from the 15th/ 16th century AD between AD 1450-1540 (length: 59mm; width: 49mm; thickness: 14mm; weight: 51.34g) and classified as a type B1 purse bar/ frame, as stated in Ward Perkins, J, B, 1940, ‘London Museum Medieval Catalogue’, page 167, fig 52.

The purse bar has an everted pear-shaped suspension loop with a D-shaped section and slight narrowing in thickness at the top. At the bottom of the loop, there are three moulded linear ridges across the width of the artefact (length: 7mm; width: 14mm), with two recesses in between. The narrow and off-set shank runs from the suspension loop, through the hollow square-sectioned central block (16mm x 16mm), and is fastened at the end with a flat circular terminal or rove to hold the loop in place. The square-sectioned central block is decorated with an incised ‘X’ on one side (presumably the front of the object), surrounded by a single square incised border running around the outside edge.

The cylindrical suspension bars of the purse are short (17mm at either side) with narrowed restrictions to either side before semi-cylindrical moulded and knobbed terminals at either end. The leather purse fabric would have originally extended from these restrictions when used (now missing). On the back of the central block in the centre, there is a pointed linear groove part of the way down the length of the feature, as well as slight recesses at the opposing bottom corners. Overall, the purse frame is in a slightly worn but good condition with a dark green patina.

A similar (although wider) example is illustrated in Margeson, S, 1993, ‘Norwich Households: Medieval and Post-Medieval Finds from Norwich Survey Excavations 1971-78’, pages 42 -3, ref no 291, as well as other examples illustrated in Read, B, 2001, ‘Metal Artefacts of Antiquity: A Catalogue of Small Finds from Specific Areas of the United Kingdom Volume One’, pages 124 and 128-133.