|
Date: |
|
Description: | An incomplete cast copper alloy zoomorphic strap end of later early medieval (Anglo-Saxon) date, 800 - 1000 AD. The strap-end is sub-rectangular in plan with two parallel sides which taper to at both ends to blunt points. The cross section is sub-rectangular and profile is slightly bowed. The edges of the strap-end are also slightly beveled. It measures 45.1 mm in length, 12.4mm width, is 2.3mm thick and weighs 5.28 grams.
The majority of the strap is cast as a solid piece, with the exception of the widest part of the terminal which divides, in profile, forming a '<' shape. The leather strap would have been attached to the strap end by rivets. Only the very base of the < survives and both rivet holes are partial on the top broken edge of the strap end. The decoration on the upper surface of the strap-end can be divided into several zones. The upper most of these, closest to the rivet holes has been largely lost due to abrasion and other damage. The largest decorative area is a sub-rectangular chip-carved panel. 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 Trewiddle style. The upper head of the beast has an open mouth, possibly with a forked tongue. The body of the beast is decorated with small incised dots and carved linear lines. 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. Either side of the central panel are a series of small sub-triangular notches which form a serrated edge along both the long edges of the strap end. 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.
The strap-end is a dark-mid brown colour with a polished but abraded patina that covers all surfaces. There are a number of areas of active corrosion and pitting, these are mostly located on the damaged areas. 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). | 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: | 800
1000 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Peter Reavill | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
-
-
-
-
-
STRAP END
Cast copper alloy zoomorphic strap…
-
-
-
Stirrup
A cast copper alloy stirrup-strap…
-
STIRRUP
A cast copper alloy stirrup-strap…
|