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Description: | An incomplete gilded copper alloy medieval strap end. It is roughly rectangular in shape, formed from two plates joined with a narrow strip running down each side to create a box-like hollow interior where the strap could be held. Both ends of the outer face have wavy outer edges, whilst the reverse face has a wavy outer edge and straight inner edge with just a small v-shaped notch in the centre. There is a rough break in the centre of the outer end of both plates where a terminal would have extended originally and there is a small amount of damage to the inner end of the outer plate. The outer face is decorated with an elaborate engraved black lettering with cross-hatching in the field behind it surrounded by an engraved linear border following the edge of the plate. The lettering is clear, but difficult to decipher. It may perhaps be 'IHC' (which is the typical inscription on these), but written back to front as if mirrored. Whether this was deliberate or not is uncertain. There are traces of gilding on the outer face surrounding the engraved details and a little can be seen on the reverse, but the majority is now missing revealing the corroded copper alloy surface below. A very similar example is illustrated in the London Museum Medieval Catalogue (1967, 270, fig.85, no.2 (30.17)). Note that other examples with circular holes in the reverse and loops at the end of the terminals appear to have functioned as book clasps (e.g. NMS-2D8BB6), but as this example lacks the hole it was probably a strap end (e.g. GLO-1BE761). Fingerlin (1971,111, nos.174-8) dates strap-ends of this type to the second half of the 14th century, although her reasoning for this is unclear. A general 14th or early 15th century date is therefore suggested here.Length: 48.54mm, width: 39.23mm, thickness: 4.88mm, weight: 30.14g
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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