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Description: | Cast copper alloy hooked strap fitting of probable post-medieval date (1500-1700).
The strap fitting is sub-triangular in plan and sub-rectangular in cross section. It measures 54.1mm in length, 21.8mm width and is 2.8mm thick. It weighs 10.6 grams. The fitting can be divided into three separate parts; the body and the hooked terminal as well as part of the suspension mount. The body of the fitting is relatively flat with a sub-rectangular cross-section; whereas the hook is sub-triangular (D shaped).
The hooked terminal has been formed by bending the upper part of the fitting back upon itself to form a U shaped hook. This hook is undecorated and measures 4.7mm length, 5.1mm width, and is 3.8mm thick. It tapers along its length and terminates in a rounded point. The upper part of the hook flares into the decorated body of the strap fitting.
The body of the fitting is sub-triangular in plan with a small rounded cross piece at the top end (nearest the hook) and a central cast knop at the other. Both the cross piece and knop are pierced by small sub-circular rivet holes. These holes are heavily stained with iron corrosion. The upper hole still has the remains of one rivet attached, the head of which has a diameter of 2.6mm. Neither of the two rivet holes have been countersunk. The main decorative element on the body of the hook consists of a series of pierced decorations. These form an irregular trefoil constructed from two sub-circular piercings and one sub-triangular. The reverse of the central plate is plain and undecorated.
The third element, the suspension mount, has been badly damaged and only a small part of it survives. It consists of an irregular shaped piece of cast copper alloy with a pierced hole through which the hook of the fitting is secured. The pierced hole has a diameter of 6.8mm. The metal on one edge is torn and broken, but is covered with an even patina. This suggests that this damage is relatively old.
The strap fitting is a mid-light green colour with an even well formed patina. There seems to be little or no erosion in the plough soil. As mentioned above there is a large amount of iron corrosion and staining present, but this is likely to be due to the iron rivets rather than the burial environment. Similar examples of hooked strap fittings are dated by Sue Margeson in 'Norwich Households' to the post-medieval period, specifically the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries (1550 - 1650). She also suggests that this type of hooked fitting or mount is closely associated with sword belts and scabbard fittings. A complete example of this type of sword belt fitting (with a similar hooked mount) is shown in Brian Read's book 'Metal Artefacts of Antiquity' (pages 39 and 43, figure 373) and a similar example of a hooked strap fitting is also shown (pages 30 and 42, figure 356). | Format: | text/html | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ | Publisher: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Rights holder: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Subjects: | archaeology | Temporal: | 1500
1700 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Peter Reavill | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
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