UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT

The function of the object is not known. It is possibly a chape or strap end, but no comparisons can be found. Kevin Leahy suggests a 9th century date for it, based on the Trewhiddle style knot at the tip. However the majority of the decoration is unclear. The object is made of cast copper alloy with silver inlay.

In plan the object is an elongated triangle. The ‘horizontal’ straight edge is instead obliquely angled and is damaged, and may not represent the original edge. This broken portion of the object reveals that the object has a void between two plates. The plates appear to be not two separate plates, but one cast piece which was then folded to form the triangle. Along one side edge there is a possible seam. In section the object is a sub-rectangle, with the plates being close together. No fill, for example leather, can be seen between the two plates.

The upper face is decorated. At the tip is a trefoil shaped knot created in silver inlay. This inlay is in high-relief compared to the rest of the surface, which has lost most of its original patina. Another strip of silver inlay is visible near the broken edge, but is mainly covered with copper corrosion. Impressions are left within the corroded surface of a central flattened ridge running from the tip, to the centre of the broken edge. Either side of this ridge are is a flattened sub-rectangle. One flattened rectangle has fine parallel grooves, perhaps used to secure inlay. The grooves do not appear to be decorative. This is all that can be seen of the decoration.

The reverse is undecorated and only has two traces of the dark green patina. Otherwise the surface is a red brown colour.

The object measures 50.89mm long, 15.24mm wide and 3.32mm thick. It weighs 4.77g.