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Description: | A probable cast copper alloy belt fitting (length: 52.14mm; width: 38.19mm; thickness at lion head mount: 9.19mm; weight: 27.58g). At the left side, there is a square headed loop which may have been used to attach the fitting to a belt. This loop has been soldered onto the main oval body in the centre. In addition, a further smaller circular loop has been soldered on (possibly for the fitting of a hook) at a 90 degree angle to the square headed loop at the opposite end.The central oval boss is cast and depicts a male lion's head in the centre. This is very prominent, protruding from the main plane of the fitting. The face has a heavy mane sweeping out to the sides and protrudes outwards. There is a circular rim/ border around the lion. This design has been covered in a thin sheet of ?tin to give a silvered effect. However, the tin plate has worn away where the lion design protrudes the most. This damage may have partly resulted from cleaning the object prior to it being coated in a chemical glaze. The back of the fitting is plain with no decoration. The circular centre piece slopes inwards to make a bowl effect.The hook/ clasp is in a fair condition with small amounts of general corrosion and wear and tear, particularly on the loops at either end, possibly indicating some use? The artefact has a green patina.This hook/ clasp is very similar to one found at Shenstone, Staffordshire (WMID-15C660), although the Staffordshire example is a little smaller, set the opposite way round, and not tinned. However this object was dated to the post-medieval period, and most likely dates from the 16th-18th century.
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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