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Description: | A worn cast copper-alloy fragment from a hooked plate, part of 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 plate fragment is sub-triangular in plan and very slightly convex with a flat lower face. The hook is missing following an old break around the weak point of a rivet hole. From the break (W.: 9.2mm) the plate flares out to a width of 17.45mm after 16.3mm. Below, the object narrows to a waist 9.65mm wide beyond these protrusions, before widening again to 20.85mm at the trefoil terminal. Aligned with the top of the terminal is a central circular rivet perforation, which on the lower surface is surrounded by a recess; the rivet is missing (these were often iron). As implied above, the reverse is plain; the front, visible, face features an elaborate scrolled foliage pattern, split down the longitudinal axis, with incised fronds trailing towards the edges. The object now has a largely mid/dark-green patina. In addition to the break suffered it has been bent slightly in profile.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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