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Description: | An incomplete cast copper alloy zoomorphic strap end of later early medieval (Anglo-Saxon) date, 800 - 1000 AD. Only the lower part of the strap end survives. The strap-end is sub-rectangular in plan with two parallel sides which tapers to a blunt point at one end and a broken edge at the other. The cross section is sub-rectangular and profile is slightly bowed. The edges of the strap-end are also slightly beveled. It measures 22.6 mm in length, 9.4mm width, is 2.1mm thick and weighs 1.44 grams. Only the lower section of the strap end survives the upper part of the decorative plate and the leather strap fittings are lost. The decoration on the upper surface of the strap-end can be divided into several zones. The largest decorative area is a sub-rectangular chip-carved panel; the upper part has been lost. This panel has bowed edges and the inner design has been executed with much skill and care. The overall design, in this area, is that of a zoomorphic interlaced beast in the Trewhiddle style. The Trewiddle design cannot be interpreted but what survives seems to be of a beast. The form of the beast loops over upon itself and its tail / legs are looped around its head. The chip carved areas have been filled with a silver coloured applied surface, possibly neillo. This has decayed and is only present in very small areas. Below the central panel is the second area of decoration, positioned close to the blunted terminal of the strap end. This consists of a series of chip carved linear and curvi-linear lines, again probably filled with neillo. The overall design is that of a zoomorphic head, with details of wide eyes a sub-rectangular nose and two nostrils. This design is cruder than that on the main body and probably represents either a horse or possibly a hounds head. The reverse of the strap end is flat and undecorated. A small section of silver coloured applied surface is present on the reverse, this is likely to be some form of white metal. The strap-end is a dark-mid grey green colour with a polished but abraded patina that covers all surfaces. The majority of the abrasion affects the front face of the strap end. In places the abrasion, combined with the corrosion, has caused the decorated surface of the strap end to laminate. Other damage is present on the long edges of the artefact this has caused it to become slightly asymmetrical in both plan and profile. Similar parallels to this strap end can be seen in Gabor Thomas's paper on Late Anglo-Saxon and Viking Age strap-ends, specifically in his Class A type I. This class of strap-end is broadly dated to the 9th and 10th centuries AD (800-1000).
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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