Rights Holder: Surrey County Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
STRAP FITTING
Unique ID: SUR-2DFE62
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A cast copper alloy anthropomorphic Roman mount or strap fitting dating to the 2nd century AD. The object is finely detailed and moulded into a figurative bust of a middle aged male, with a bald head and large beard comprised of four thick strands of ringlets descending to the chest. The neck of the figure appears to truncate in the manner of a carved bust with a flange or panel with incised linear decoration of unclear form below. The reverse of the object is partially concave on the lower portion and has stumps of a rectangular sectioned loop or mounting fixtures at the back of the head and at the lower edge.
This object most likely depicts Silenus, the foster-father of Bacchus and leader of satyrs. He is usually shown as bald-beaded with a snub-nose, pointed ears and a moustache and beard.
Notes:
The fittings on this example suggest a function as a strap slide, although other examples are more likely furniture fittings. See also SF-023465, NMS-1690F3, WMID-D1FDC6, WREX-C91A0B, KENT-BD4034 and WILT-074FD1.
Find of note status
This is a find of note and has been designated: County / local importance
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Exactly AD 100
Date to: Circa AD 200
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 35.2 mm
Width: 19.1 mm
Thickness: 17.2 mm
Weight: 18.06 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 1st August 1985
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: East Midlands (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Nottinghamshire (County)
District: Newark and Sherwood (District)
Parish or ward: North Clifton (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SK8272
Four figure Latitude: 53.23870693
Four figure longitude: -0.77281331
1:25K map: SK8272
1:10K map: SK87SW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appels, A. and Laycock, S. | 2007 | Roman Buckles and Military Fittings | Witham | Greenlight Publishing |
Similar objects
Find number: WMID-D1FDC6
Object type: MOUNT
Broadperiod: ROMAN
A cast copper alloy probable furniture mount (length: 31.5mm; width at shoulders: 30mm; thickness at shoulders: 1mm; weight: 14.18g). The mou…
Workflow: Published
Find number: HAMP-2A3453
Object type: FIXTURES AND FITTINGS
Broadperiod: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Copper alloy fitting in the form of a male head. The upper surface is generally convex and the reverse flat giving the object a broadly D-sha…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: BH-63CDE7
Object type: FURNITURE FITTING
Broadperiod: ROMAN
An incomplete copper-alloy furniture fitting in the form of a female bust.
The head and neck are well moulded in three dimensions, whereas…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618