STRAP FITTING

A cast copper-alloy post-medieval sword-belt mount (strap-fitting) c. 1500-1600, with around half of the original hanger surviving. The complete (strap) plate consisted of two elongated M-shaped half-plates joined, linked at 90 degrees to separate M-shaped pendent plates through an integrally cast hook (on the pendent plate) and ring suspension loops (on the strap plate).

The pendent plate is slightly bent along its diagonal. It has a suspension hook protruding centrally from its upper edge. The hook curves forwards. There are three circular holes pierced through the plate; two are placed either side of the upper edge and the third centrally in the lower edge. One of the holes in the upper corner is blocked by iron corrosion product indicating the metallic nature of the rivet attachment. It has a double cusped terminal.

The strap plate has a suspension ring along one side that is still interlinked with the hook on the pendent plate causing it to hang at 90 degrees to the first. The former had two circular holes piercing the face at opposite ends of the the extant element; one hole has broken through; at the other end the double cusped terminal is complete.

Both plates have the same style of decoration. It is set within a border, and consists of symmetrical foliate design in relief: a central stem with three central trefoil leaves and two fronds below on either side. Above are two side stems each terminating in a leaf which curl to follow the rounded corner. Above the central leaf the three stems are tied together with a band. The surface of both components has traces of a black substance possibly pitch. The object is green to brown in colour.

Length: 67 mm; Width: 31 mm; Weight: 21.55 g

Such fittings are rarely found complete (though see an example illustrated in Cunningham and Drury 1985, 41; fig. 26, no. 7), rather elements or broken examples are far more common. However, a complete sword-belt hanger plate of this type can be seen on this database (WILT-5F9183) and also in illustrated in Geake (2001; fig. 17), with examples of the accompanying M-shaped plates illustrated in Read (2008, 219-220; nos 790-792). Such fittings 'proliferate in the 16th and 17th centuries' (Geake 2001, 35). Their design and decoration are relatively standardised.