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Description: | A copper-alloy snake-form belt hook of post-Medieval to modern date.The artefact is now bent, but it would originally have been 'S-shaped'. Each half takes the form of the neck and head of a serpent or bird. The necks are thin, of pointed-oval section and form a broad curve. The heads resemble those of a swan, with a well-moulded beak and indented pointed-oval eyes. At the centre of the object, dividing the two animals, is a three-tiered circular moulding with a series of radiating ridges. A pair of foliate mouldings flanks this central element. The artefact measures 40.1mm long, 31.7mm wide and 3.4mm thick. The weight is 4.55g.The earliest snake-form fasteners appear on portraits of the early post-Medieval period, often in association with sword-belts. After falling out of fashion in the 17th century, they regained popularity at the end of the 18th century, when they began to be used on certain military uniforms (Bailey 1997: 20). The form and lack of corrosion on this particular piece suggest that it may be one of the later examples.
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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