STRAP END 844883

Description: A cast copper-alloy crescentic-shaped composite strap-end of medieval date (c. 1400 - c. 1450 AD; Geake 2001, 32), incomplete in that it is missing its back plate. The object comprises a crescentic element with an elaborate, large sub-triangular protruding terminal. The artefact has a flat, undecorated reverse. The crescentic part has two rivet holes positioned symmetrically (from the centre line) in its lower section, towards the protrusion. The rivets remain in situ. The moulded terminal is openwork and features twelve drilled pits (blind holes) arranged symmetrically around a central rib. The rightmost perforation in the second row from the top (if the crescent was pointing upwards) has caused a weakness resulting in damage to the edge (the surface is corroded dull green, suggesting this is an old break). The front of the crescentic element is decorated with lightly engraved lines. The lower section is decorated with two horizontally set pointed ovals (each is 7.3 mm long), the inner region of both have been filled with diagonal lines (hatching, travelling top right to lower left). A line projects from the outer points of each oval forming an outer border along the 'arms' of the crescent. Above them in the centre of the crescent is a V shaped design with the ends of the V curling/spiralling inward. The 'arms' of the crescent are divided by three curving vertical lines (so that each 'arm' of the crescent is divided vertically and bordered, the outermost lines meet the pointed ovals as described above). Angled lines at forty-five degrees near the base of each 'arm' possibly separated the decoration on the 'arms' from the decoration at the base of the crescent but this is unclear due to wear and damage. The moulded terminal has a series of short notched lines along its tip. The object has a grey/green corroded patina with brown/red corrosion product corresponding to areas where the frame has become bent. The frame is bent in two places, the left hand crescent 'arm' and the midsection of the moulded terminal. A relatively deep incision on the lower part of the left 'arm' also has the same type of red/brown corrosion. The strap-end weighs 8.98 g, is 46 mm long, 30.3 mm wide, and 2 mm thick.

Date: 1400 - 1450

Object type: STRAP END

Last import: August 15, 2017