STRAP END

An incomplete medieval copper alloy strap end dating 14th-15th century. The object is rectangular, being formed of a rectangular sheet of metal which has been folded in half. The closed edge of the object is slightly cylindrical and may have held a pin. Above the cylindrical section are two rivet holes, with a further two rivet holes along the opposing edge. The rivets are no longer in situ. The object is decorated with a moulded linear border consisting of one line running just above the closed edge of the object and two more running perpendicular to it. The rivet holes along the open edge each pierce the moulded design, as well as one of the remaining rivet holes below. Connecting the two moulded lines along the open edge are two engraved lines, creating an panel in the centre. Within the panel is a voided lombardic letter a and engraved hashes surrounding it. There are engraved hashes, more widely spaced apart, outside the central panel arranged so that they would form chevrons if the central panel were removed. The reverse is undecorated and slightly shorter than the front.

A parallel with lettering can be found in Margeson (1993, no. 241) and a similarly constructed example can be found in Egan and Pritchard (1991, no 756). There are several similar examples on the PAS database: DENO-C246E7 and NMS-F9B052.

Dimensions: length: 47.38 mm; width: 29.27 mm; thickness: 4.74 mm; weight: 7.87g.

Reference: Egan G. and Pritchard F. 1991. Dress Accessories: Medieval finds from the Museum of London. The Stationery Office, London

Margeson, S.1993. Norwich Households: The Medieval and Post-Medieval Finds From Norwich Survey Excavations 1971-1978. East Anglian Archaeology Report No. 58.