STRAP FITTING

An incomplete but fragmentary copper-alloy strap mount with suspension loops, probably from a sword belt, of Early Post Medieval dating (16th Century). 

Around 25% of the strap fitting is present. One loop and a lis terminal remain. A trifoliate terminal, with a central rivet hole is present on the left hand of the fitting. A loop projects downwards at 90 degrees from the bottom edge of the mount. The rivet holes have been pierced from the reverse though to the front of the mount and contains part of the iron rivet. The front face of the strap mount is decorated with a foliate design in relief, with a flower surrounding the central rivet hole and a leaf design extending to the outer edges. The reverse of the mount is undecorated.

It measures 26.3 mm in length, 28.3 mm wide and 2.1 mm thick. It weighs 4.5 g.

The sword belt fitting is a mid brown colour, with an even surface patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of some of the surface detail.

There are parallels recorded on the database, one discovered in Shropshire (HESH-EBC0A1) depicts a very similar stylised leaf decoration.A complete sword-belt hanger of this type can be seen on this database (ref. WILT-5F9183) and also in illustrated in Geake (2001, fig. 17). Geake suggests such fittings 'proliferate in the 16th and 17th centuries' (Geake 2001, 35). Their design and decoration are relatively standardised". Read (2001, page 43 ref 373) illustrates a similar example with three suspension loops which he suggests as a sword belt fitting. Read suggests his example dates to the 16^thcentury. 

Read, B, (2001)Metal artefacts of antiquity: a catalogue of small finds from specific areas of the United KingdomLangport, Portcullis Publishing.