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Description: | A corroded, broken and slightly bent cast copper-alloy hooked plate from a post-medieval sword-belt fitting. Overall, these strap-fittings tend to consist of a mount with three suspension loops from which hang a trio of hooked plates; the scabbard straps would have been attached to these plates. The ensemble features foliate decoration on their visible faces: an illustration of a complete sword-belt fitting can be found in Read (2001, 43; ref. 373). Their design and decoration are relatively standardised. Such fittings 'proliferate in the 16th and 17th centuries' (Geake 2001, 35).This incomplete single hooked plate is sub-trapezoidal in plan; the hook is missing. From below the base of the hook (W.: 4.9mm) the plate flares out to a width of 13.3mm. Aligned with the base of these side protrusions is a central circular rivet perforation; on the lower surface this is surrounded by a recess. The rivet is missing, although traces of orange corrosion product on the lower surface suggest that it was made of iron. Below, the object narrows to a waist 8.9mm wide beyond these protrusions, before widening again to 15.75mm, 13.6mm from the terminal. Below these latter, and above the trefoil terminal, is another waist at which the plate narrows to 9.0mm. Centrally aligned with the beginning of the trefoil is a second circular perforation; on the lower face is similar corrosion product, albeit more concentrated around the hole.As implied above, the reverse is plain; the front, visible, face features an elaborate scrolled foliage pattern, split down the vertical axis, with incised fronds trailing towards the edges. There is a trifoliate leaf at the base of the hook. The object now has a largely corroded mid/light-green colour with traces of cream and orange corrosion product (the latter from the oxidised iron rivets). The object has been bent slightly in profile.
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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