Casgliadau Arlein

A pierced frame or fitting made from copper allow. It is a curved strip with irregular perforations along its length. The majority of the perforations overlap the edge of the strip rendering some of the perforations semi-circles, some nearly complete and two completely round remaining within the bounds of the metal strip. The perforations occur at irregular intervals and vary slightly in size. The irregularity indicates this is a hand made item and the context suggests it is from the medieval period. Each end has a broken perforation that may correspond to its opposite perforation, hinting that this may have originally been a complete ring.

Its purpose of this object is unlcear. If it was a fitting for furntiure and the perforations were for nails to go through then there would be far more nails that practically necessary for a box fitting. If the object was a complete ring originally, it could have been attached to some leather or fabric item. It may have been intended as a decorative object.