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Description: | A broken 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 fairly well but has lost its hook as a result of old damage. It is sub-triangular in plan with a flat lower surface. From the hook end (W.: 4.8mm) the plate flares out to a width of 16.15mm. 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. Below, the object narrows to a waist 9.8mm wide beyond these protrusions, before widening again to 18.6mm, 13.5mm from the terminal. Below these latter, and above the trefoil terminal (W.: 21.65mm), is another waist at which the plate narrows to 9.85mm. Centrally aligned with the beginning of the trefoil is a second circular perforation; on the lower face this is surrounded by a recess. 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 and a moulded leaf at the hook end, above the rivet hole. The object has corroded to a mid-green colour. The lower end has bent bent slightly upwards, then down at the trefoilate terminal.
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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