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Description: | Late Saxon silver tongue-shaped strap-end of Thomas's Class E, Type 5, apparently re-used as a brooch. The attachment edge is recessed on the front, with a separate rectangular front-plate to secure the (missing) strap. It is attached with four rivets with rounded heads (one head missing), each surrounded by an annulet made from twisted silver wire.The plate is cast in low relief within a border following the edge consisting of a pair of ridges separated by a groove; a small length of niello survives in the groove, in the centre at the top. Within this border is a sunken field filled with Carolingian-style relief decoration which is best seen with the attachment end held uppermost. The decoration consists of a central stem with two square bosses, each with an inner border of a groove which may originally have been set with niello. A pair of opposed scrolls springs from the lower corners of the upper boss, curling around and up. Two pairs of opposed scrolls spring from the second boss, one from the upper corners curling downwards, and the other pair from the lower edge of the boss curling upwards. All of these scrolly tendrils end in rounded terminals. The stem terminates in a tear-drop shape with a hollow centre which may originally have been inlaid with niello. The stem and scrolls are reserved on a gilded field, but no gilding can be seen elsewhere, which may be the result of differential gilding or wear.On the reverse are two large patches of solder, one near the upper edge partially obscuring the reverse of the rivets, and one at the terminal. These strongly suggest a secondary use for this object, probably as a brooch with separate catch-plate and pin lug (now missing) soldered to the reverse, similar to that seen on a copper-alloy example from Norfolk (NMS-393CA2 / HER 11743).For a similar strap-end with decoration cast in low relief, gilding and niello, see ESS-BE9A25. Other examples of Carolingian-style gilded silver strap fittings include NMS-638554 (HER 56967) and NMS-ADCA16 (HER 58413). Thomas suggests a date for this type in the late 9th or 10th century (Thomas 2004, 1).Length 39mm. Width 25mm. Weight 12.2g.
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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