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Description: | A worn cast copper-alloy hooked plate and ring from a post-medieval sword-belt fitting. Overall, these strap-fittings tend to consist of a mount with three suspension loops from which hang a trio of hooked plates; the scabbard straps would have been attached to these plates. The ensemble features foliate decoration on their visible faces: an illustration of a complete sword-belt fitting can be found in Read (2001, 43; ref. 373).This single hooked plate is complete but has been abraded on its protrusions, particularly the trefoil terminal. It is sub-triangular in plan and very slightly convex with a flat back. Viewed in profile one can see that the hook end curves behind the main plate such that the top of the hook is roughly central to the plate. Retained within the hook is what appears to be a very roughly cast sub-annular ring (L.: 12.3mm, W.: 10.5mm, variable thickness). From the hook (W.: 4.1mm) the plate flares out to a width of 13.1mm after 20.3mm. Aligned with the base of these side protrusions is a central circular rivet perforation, which on the lower surface is surrounded by a recess; the rivet is missing. The object narrows to a waist 10.8mm wide beyond these protrusions, before widening again to 15.75mm, 12.1mm from the terminal. Below these latter protrusions, and above the trefoil terminal, is another waist at which the plate narrows to 12.4mm. Almost centrally aligned with the beginning of the trefoil is a second circular perforation, again missing its rivet, with traces of iron corrosion product present on both surfaces; again the hole is recessed on the back face. As implied above, the reverse is plain; the front, visible, face features an elaborate scrolled foliage pattern, split down the vertical axis, with fronds trailing towards the edges. The object now has a largely mid-green patina with slight traces of red-brown and orange (the latter from the corroded iron rivets).Such fittings 'proliferate in the 16th and 17th centuries' (Geake 2001, 35). Their design and decoration are relatively standardised, as can be seen in those recorded on this database, including this Hampshire example: HAMP-3DF447.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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