HOOKED TAG

A Post Medieval copper alloy strap fitting for a sword belt, dating to the early 17th century. This example is composed of the plate, which tapers from the top to the hook. Attached to the hook is a copper alloy ring. The ring has only been crudely finished with a fragment of copper alloy attached where it was attached to the adjoining ring during the manufacturing process. There are also casting flashes that have not been removed with a file. The upper edge of the plate has a pronounced curved projection at each corner. The plate is slightly plano-convex. There are traces of iron rivets in the two rivet holes in the centre of the object. The copper alloy large areas of a decorative black surface coating surviving on the front surface. Egan (2005:192) notes that chapes of this sort were very popular in the 16th century but the fashion appears to have come to an end by 1600. Geoff Egan suggests that this coating originally gave the metal a red appearance and it has subsequently discoloured to black (pers comm Geoff Egan 2008). Parallels can be found in Margeson (1993, nos. 257-8) and date AD 1600-1650.

Dimensions: length: 31.64 mm; width: 13.50 mm; thickness: 2.93 mm; ring diameter: 11.83 mm; weight: 4.48g.

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