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Description: | Two cast copper alloy Medieval possible harness fittings. They are a pair, both flat and lozengiform, and both incomplete due to old breaks, one more so than the other. The edges are serrated along two adjacent sides and if viewed with these edges uppermost, the serration can be seen to continue for a short length along the lower two sides. The lower part is smooth in outline and semi-circular in shape, terminating with a short, rectangular extension, oval in section but incomplete. This lower part is missing entirely from one of the objects (b). Incised line decoration runs diagonally across both objects, and may depict a tree or other foliage, outlining a trunk/stem rising from the extension and tapering to the opposite corner, with 'branches' curving to left and right from the centre. Four large perforations occupy the spaces between these branches, the upper pair having a diameter of c.6.7mm and the lower c.7.05mm (missing on b). The decorative pattern is mirrored on the reverse of the fittings. They measure:a) serrated edges 37.73mm and 34.43mm in length, lower edges 28.94mm and 26.36mm in lengthoveral length and width 49.97mm x 48.74mm, weight 20.37g.b) ( incomplete) serrated edges 35.62mm and 34.81mm in length, lower edges 14.73mm and 16.21mm in lengthoveral length and width 36.16mm x 46.97mm, weight 15.38g.Whilst they may be harness fittings, the fact of the decoration on both sides suggests otherwise. This also precludes their identification as strap or furniture mounts, or even stirrup strap mounts. There are similarities between William's type 3 group 10 mounts and this pair of objects, but their shape and decoration cannot be paralleled here. The more complete fitting, a) would seem to have lost a stem or shaft by which it may have been attached to the other piece, b) or to have been a terminal from some other object.
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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