FURNITURE FITTING

Medieval copper alloy sheet silvered strap fitting in one piece. It is rectangular in shape, flaring slightly from the mid-point (which has 2x1mm cutaway on each long side) to the shorter ends. Both shorter ends are concave, but with a convex pierced arc adjoining them. The cutaway areas define two sides. Both are decorated with punched circles (ring-and-dot) surrounding four long leaves around a central ring-and-dot with a ring-and-dot in each leaf. The leaves have incision around them so they stand out. The border of three straight sides and one concave side is also defined in ring-and-dot. The whole surface is gilded. The reverse is flat and missing much of its original patina. One end is bent. The mid part is ever so slightly ridged. Bent length 43mm, max width 17mm. Rivet hole diam 2.5mm. The cutaway areas do not seem large enough for this to be a strap-end folded widthways or for holding a clasp. Perhaps it was lost before it could be used? Or perhaps it is comparable with Egan's possible strap-ends, Cf 1991 no.756. The slight ridging however suggests it may have been bent at right angles and therefore form part of a casket mount. 13th century.