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Description: | An incomplete 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 single hooked plate survives well, apart from a break which resulted in the detachment of the hook and a slight bend at the hook end. The artefact is sub-triangular in plan. It has a flat lower surface. From the hook (W.: 5.5mm) the plate flares out to a width of 15.7mm. 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 iron rivet survives as a corroded remnant, with surrounding orange corrosion product on the both surfaces. Below, the object narrows to a waist 9.15mm wide beyond these protrusions, before widening again to 17.8mm, 14.3mm from the terminal. Below these latter, and above the trefoil terminal, is another waist at which the plate narrows to 9.5mm. Centrally aligned with the beginning of the trefoil is a second circular perforation; on the lower face is an incomplete ring around it. As above, within it the iron rivet survives as a corroded remnant, with surrounding orange corrosion product on the both surfaces.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 plate (W.: 21.4mm). The central fleur is pointed and has been bent downwards slightly. The object now has a largely mid/dark-green patina with patches of cream corrosion product and possible traces of a black lacquer in the recesses of the decoration.
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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