|
Date: |
|
Description: | An incomplete cast copper alloy strap fitting in the form of a belt hanger of Medieval date (AD 1400 ? AD 1500). Length 64.8mm. Weight 46.85g.
The object comprises a terminal in the form of an animal?s head, possibly that of hound with an elongated neck, and an integral curving shaft, the end of which formed a loop through which a belt or strap could be threaded. The loop is missing and the break is old.
The head is triangular in plan, as viewed from above. It has a length of 21.2mm and a maximum width of 15.0mm. The beast?s eyes are absent and the ears are indistinctive. The top of the head is bevelled longitudinally on a centre-line between the ears to the tip of the small prominent nose. Each bevel is decorated with transverse grooves. The underside of the mouth is convex. The elongated neck has a length of about 28.0mm and a maximum width of about 10.0mm, the upper part having three longitudinal facets and the underside being convex. The shaft is integral with the top of the neck and the junction of the shaft with the neck is in the form of a shield-shaped element quartered by deep grooves. The shield is 24.0mm in length and 14.0mm in width. Beyond the shield-shaped element, the shaft curves and the face is carinated. The opposite face is slightly convex. The curving shaft and the missing belt loop would have formed a U-shape.
The piece is in fair condition. About 50% of the surface areas have a dark green patina. The remaining areas are covered with superficial copper alloy corrosion products.
There is an unprovenanced example of a Medieval belt hanger in The Museum of London Collections. Several have been reported to and recorded by The British Museum.
A close parallel for this Isle of Wight belt hanger is one recorded from Beeston with Bittering Parish, Norfolk. See Portable Antiquities Scheme find: NMS-D99313. | 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: | 1400
1500 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Frank Basford | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
|
|