STRAP FITTING

A copper-alloy strap fitting, probable strap slide or belt loop rather than a mount, of post Medieval date, c.1500-1700. The fitting is formed in one piece and is comprised of a flat sub-rectangular plate and two elongated tapered prongs, projecting from the reverse forming the point of attachment. The sub-rectangular front plate has straight short edges and has symmetrical cut-out decoration running along both the long edges. This cut-out decoration consists of two pairs of semi-circular cut-outs so that the front plate is double-waisted forming a smaller sub-rectangular area to either end which flank a larger sub-rectangular central plate. There is further decoration in the form of V-shaped cut-outs along the outer edges of these rectangular plates. The larger middle section has two V-shaped cut-outs to either edge creating a serrated edge of 3 triangular peaks to each side whilst both of the smaller rectangular sections each have a single V-shaped cut-out to either edge both of which are joined by a single shallow linear groove running across the face of the plate. There are no grooves joining the cutouts across the centre of the plate which is plain and flat. The two attachment prongs, which are rectangular and tapering in section, are not complete; more complete examples already on the database SOM-9EC1E7 & DOR-9791B2 however do indicate that the two ends would have overlapped rather than being joined. The two attachment prongs are bent inwards towards one another creating a sub-rectangular opening between them. One of these prongs is set slightly inset beneath the edge of the plate whilst the second is set flush with the edge of the plate.

For parallels see: DOR-9791B2; SUR-CDCA76; NLM-A66E41; NARC-35B773; SOM-9EC1E7; CORN-6ED471, BUC-91F075 & IOW-969617. They are post-medieval in date and possibly formed part of sword belt fittings.