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STRAP FITTING
Unique ID: WMID-331ED2
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A complete cast copper alloy strap/ belt fitting in the form of a snake, of Modern dating (18th to 20th Centuries AD) (length: 36mm; width: 18mm; thickness: 3mm; weight: 5.65g).
This 'S' shaped buckle is sub-oval in section and has a pointed head (with a bird/ eagle appearance) at one end with the eye and mouth clearly marked on both sides. However, small and multiple lines of crescent scales are only visible on one side, which appear just below the head to the tail of the artefact, which tapers to a slanted point. The artefact is in a worn but fair condition with a dark green patina.
Similar examples are illustrated in Gorgon Bailey's 'Detector Finds 3', 1997, pages 20-1. Bailey states that the 'snake form belt hooks' became popular during the 16th century, where an example can be seen in the portrait of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, c. 1575. The fastener was part of a sword belt, and was used in place of the normal buckle. It is likely that these strap fittings would have been tinned or gilded. The snake belt hook would seem to have fallen from fashion by the 17th century, and remained so until the end of the 18th century, when it was favoured by the military (Bailey, page 20).
Class: S shaped fastener
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MODERN
Period from: MODERN
Period to: MODERN
Date from: AD 1700
Date to: AD 1900
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 36 mm
Width: 18 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 5.65 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 9th January 2005
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: West Midlands (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Solihull (Metropolitan District)
District: Solihull (Metropolitan District)
Parish or ward: Meriden (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SP2482
Four figure Latitude: 52.435452
Four figure longitude: -1.648404
1:25K map: SP2482
1:10K map: SP28SW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bailey, G. | 1997 | Detector Finds 3 | Chelmsford | Greenlight Publishing | pages 20-1 |
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Timeline of associated dates
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