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Description: | An incomplete sheet copper alloy strap end, dating to the Medieval period, between AD 1200 - 1400 (length: 57mm; width: 14mm; thickness: 2.5mm; weight: 4.8g).The strap end (which is comprised of two copper alloy sheets attached together) is rectangular in plan and flat in side section, although badly corroded at both ends and along the edges. At one end of the length of the artefact, there are two complete copper alloy rivets (diameter: 3mm) in the left and right corners, which hold both sheets together. The front of the strap end is decorated with an elongated incised dragon, which covers the full length of the artefact (although one end is broken). The head of the beast appears at the riveted end and it appears that the mouth is slightly open. The incised outline of the dragon is sharply angled, showing the probable wings at the top of the body and two feet below, which are pointed at an angle slanting forwards. The body then becomes narrow after the feet illustrating a long tail and a forked terminal to the tail that curves backwards to each side towards the main body of the beast. The scales on the body are also highlighted by multiple short incised lines, most of which appear longitudinally to the beast's body. There are, however, incised markings (six of them) that appear in a different direction (a difference of 90° to the other markings) at the dragon's mouth. Additionally, there are slanted incised lines (four of which are visible) on the beast's tail. A single incised line at the top and bottom of the artefact borders the dragon. The back of the artefact is undecorated. Overall, the strap end is in a worn but fair condition with some areas of bronze disease along the edges.A similar example is illustrated in Margeson, S, 1993, 'Norwich Households: Medieval and Post-Medieval Finds from Norwich Survey Excavations 1971-78', pages 27-8, fig 14, ref no 140, which is described as a 'rectangular buckle-plate engraved with stylised ?animal; two rivet holes at one end, cut down for re-use as strap-end' and is dated to the 14th century.
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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