Wrist Clasp (Right)
This particular wrist clasp was discovered, along with its counterpart, around 1849 at the West Stow Anglo-Saxon burial site. It was found in a woman’s grave (#28), as most were- these clasps were generally associated with women’s clothing in the fifth and sixth centuries, though there is evidence in some regions that they may have been worn or used by men as well.
Wrist clasps served the primary function of securing parts of a garment (usually sleeves), and were often found alongside brooches, necklaces, small jewelry, and other dress accessories. They may also have functioned symbolically as a reflection of status, or perhaps a token of heritage. Most were made of bronze (copper alloy), likely through a process of casting and forging, though various iron clasps have been discovered and may indicate the use of sheet metal and “wrought metalworking.” The general structure of a wrist clasp consists of a plate, bar, and a number of holes used for fastening. Oftentimes there were various markings and signs of riveting on the plate, and some clasps were even found with remnants of jeweling, ennameling, and other exquisite decorative practices.
For my reconstruction of the object, I decided to digitally model a wrist clasp using Autodesk ReCap Pro. I intended to work carefully with the clasp’s color(s), as color is a large indicator of metal use and practice. I wanted to highlight a range of metals and alloys in the clasp to suggest the work of recycled and reforged metal. Unfortunately, I ran into many technical issues and could not get the final model to render properly. Instead, I’ve included a drawing of what my model would have looked like during the process of digital reconstruction, and also a depiction of the botched final product.
Although the final model was a failure, I was able to learn a few things during the process of reconstruction. I began to think more about the practicality of wrist clasps in relation to their nature of production. Wrist clasps made to be purely functional were likely produced with sheet metal, whereas more intricately decorated models may have been cast. The general shape and size of the clasps were surely large factors in how one may have comfortably used them. As mentioned before, I took particular interest in color and how different blends may indicate certain metalworking techniques. This dynamic can be further revealing of trade practices and material preference in the case of both the producer and consumer. Overall, the process of recreating the clasp helped me to work with more attention to the range of senses, moving past the simple considerations of what I already know or see.
