English Medieval - Bronze Armorial Steelyard Weight > Lot No. 608

Description:
Circa 1257-1272 AD. A Class II globular lead-filled cast copper-alloy (latten) armorial steelyard weight with suspension loop with two engraved lines between the loop and body; the body of the weight bearing three incised heater shields of arms, being those of England (three lions passant); the Hanseatic merchants (double-headed eagle) and those for Richard or his son Edmund, Earls of Cornwall and Poitou (lion rampant).

Measurements:
70mm tall; 759 grams.

Condition:
Very fine with pleasing colour.

References:
London Museum, pages 171-174; Mills number NM.215.

Provenance:
Found Chelveston-cum-Caldecott, Northamptonshire in 2009 (PAS record NARC-A39A55).

Comments notes:
The date for this weight of middle to late 13th century is established from the arms shown as being after 1257 when Richard, brother of Henry III, was elected King of the Romans and adopted the Hanseatic arms from that date, in addition to the lion rampant of Cornwall and Poitou. After 1272, these weights bear a fourth shield of arms, that of the de Clare family (chevrons), following Edmund's marriage to Margaret de Clare in that year. Edmund died in 1300 (when the earldom became extinct) and steelyards were banned from 1350. The Hanseatic League merchants, originally of Germanic origin, were based in London at the Steelyard. A printout of the Portable Antiquities Scheme record for this item is included.

Export licence:
No

Low estimate: £600
High estimate: £700

Auction date: Friday 19th March 2010 at The Swedenborg Hall 20-21 Bloomsbury Way
London WC1A 2TH

Sold for: £1,050