Silver button

3D ModelNoAI

This domed hollow silver fastener, with attached brass disc (now distorted), measures around 3cm across. It was found on the beach at Church Cove, Gunwalloe. The front is decorated with a scene from the Bible story of Tobias and the Angel. The winged Angel Raphael protects and guides Tobias, who while bathing in the river Tigris with his companion dog is attacked by a fish leaping out of the water to bite him. On the back of the dome are several small marks, and the initials HB incised in the silver.

It is unusual, and difficult to identify or date closely, but is likely to be 18th century and northern European, possibly Dutch, as indicated by initial assessment.

3D scanned by Tom Goskar (@tomgoskar) as part of the Wreck and Rescue at Gunwalloe project commissioned by Cornwall Archaeological Unit (CAU) and funded by Historic England to mark the 50th anniversary of the Protection of Wrecks Act, 1973.