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Description: | Copper alloy decorative two part fitting, probably a strap (or harness) fitting of Early Medieval date. There is a generally D-shaped loop formed by a curved element which is circular in section and thickens at the ends to form moulded zoomorphic terminals (L. 20.5mm. W. 21.7mm. Th. 4.5mm). The animals are related to those seen on Romanesque swivel fittings. The terminals are linked by a straight, narrow oval-sectioned bar. The second part is formed by a longer copper alloy piece which is bent over on itself, forming an upper and lower plate, and hangs from the bar of the first part at the bend (L. 32mm. W. 15.95-7.75mm. Th. 5.5-1.6mm). The lower plate is flat and rectangular in section, has a rounded terminal and tapers to the bend. There are two small rivet holes, both of which retain the remains of the iron rivets. They are arranged longitudinally, one slightly off centre at the rounded terminal and the other just before the midway point between the terminal and the bend. The upper plate expands from the bend. Just beneath the bend the plate thickens to form two convex lateral ridges, the second being thicker than the first. The first appears to be plain, while the second has moulded decoration, now heavily worn so that the design is unclear but which is also probably zoomorphic. Beneath this the plate is flat and rectangular in section and continues to expand to form a trefoil terminal. The upper surface of the terminal has moulded decoration in the form of two raised spiral ridges, one in each of the side lobes of the terminal. The lower lobe appears undecorated. There are two small rivet holes in the upper plate, aligned with those of the lower plate with one in the centre of the lower lobe of the terminal and one in the centre just above the terminal. The uppermost of the rivet holes retains the remains of the iron rivet. Patchy reddish brown patina. | 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: | 1030
1100 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
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