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Description: | An incomplete cast copper-alloy swivel strap fitting of Medieval date. Only one loop survives, the remainder is missing due to old breaks, now worn.The loop is D-shaped in form and section, tapering at both sides in stylised zoomorphic terminals. These are in the form of animal heads with crescent shaped ears, prominent and projecting triangular brows with transverse grooves, and elongated snouts. The snouts grasp the attachment end, which is oval in form with a circular aperture that would have originally enabled the loop to swivel. This strap fitting measures 21.33mm in length, 22.22mm in width, 2.91mm in thickness (at the frame), 6.70mm (at the attachment end), 7.66g in weight.Swivel mechanisms such as this were employed for a variety of functions during the Medieval period as strap fittings and as such a specific function cannot be attributed to them. They are commonly found singly rather than complete as in the current example, and the stylised animal head terminals are typical.There are similar examples recorded on the PAS database (SF-8DF606), (SF-CA5816), (SF-F0D4D8), (NMS-DCC0C8), (SF-996AD5), (SF-50A562).
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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