Year: 2022
Type: article
Abstract: The technological study of three very large bronze jugs dating to the late 14th century or 15th century found that they share unusual features in spite of having very different provenances. All three bear some of the same heraldry, including the English royal arms, and have English inscriptions in relief Lombardic lettering, like that on large bells. All three are leaded bronzes with significant antimony content and were cast in two-part cope moulds. X‑radiography was able to show sub-rectangular features at regular intervals within the metal walls, interpreted as chaplets/spacers that separated the core and cope during the casting process. It is concluded that the jugs were individually commissioned by persons with connections to the royal court, quite possibly at different times but that the distinctive characteristics shared by them all suggest they were made in the same English foundry, which would have made both domestic vessels and bells.
Source: Historical Metallurgy
Authors: La Niece, Susan, Campbell, Marian
Institutions: British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7216932175