Accession number
DG 038
Date made
18th or 19th century AD
Materials
Metal; Lead
Collection
Dimensions (cm)
Archival information
File of material relating to an inscribed book cover. Includes photocopy of image of object with some basic information about it, namely, medium, period and origin (date unspecified); letter and photocopy thereof (4 July 1972) from Rupert [Bruce Mitford], British Museum, to John Hunt, Senior, Drumleck, Baily, county Dublin. Writes that the Anglo-Saxon experts in the British Museum are not inclined to think that the book cover is a genuine antiquity of Aelfrics times 'although it could be an exercise by the 18th century Anglo-Saxonist'; letter and photocopy thereof (16 April 1982) from A.R.A. (Anthony) Hobson, The Glebe house, Whitsbury, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, to 'Putzel' (Gertrude Hunt), Drumleck, Baily, county Dublin. Writes, 'Neil Ker was delighted to hear news of your Anglo-Saxon inscription. He said: "This is Lord Londesborough's 'Lead plate,' later acquired by Pitt Rivers."; Ker was unable to date the object but Dobson wonders if it may date from the early eighteenth century. Encloses Kers transcription and translation of the book cover; notes, and photocopy thereof (22 November 1972), entitled 'The Bury St. Edmunds Plaque' which summarise the reasons of experts for concluding that it is not of the late tenth or early eleventh centuries. The most likely period for such a production is probably the early nineteenth century when Anglo-Saxon antiquities began to be more widely studied and collected; letter (29 January 2002) from Leslie Webster, Deputy Keeper, British Museum, to John Hunt, Junior, Drumleck, Baily, county Dublin. Writes that scholarly opinion takes the view that this piece is a scholarly fake but that John Hunt, Senior, always believed in its authenticity. States that it would be interesting to see if any scientific analysis might shed light on this question. Also writes that she is hoping to give a paper on this and other eighteenth-century Anglo-Saxon conundrums in July. Encloses a photocopy of a nineteenth-century engraving of this piece, made when it was in Lord Londesboroughs collection; letter (29 January 2002) from Webster to Michael Holland, Registrar, Hunt Museum, enclosing a photocopy of the letter she sent to Hunt; letter (10 May 2002) from Webster to Fiona Davern, Registrar, Hunt Museum, thanking her for loan of photographs of the book cover; copy of letter (28 February 2005) from docent (name withheld), Hunt Museum, to Webster requesting copy of proceedings of symposium Webster mentioned in earlier letter. This is in connection with research being done at the Hunt Museum.
Category
Place of collection
Technique
Copyright Attribution
Lead plaque | Metal,Lead | 18th or 19th century AD | The Hunt Collection | PD
