STRAP END

A complete silver Anglo Saxon strap end dating to the Early Medieval period, c. 800 - 900. The strap end belongs to Thomas (2003, 2) Class A, Type 1 (Trewhiddle style) and consists of a pointed oval with niello inlay. It has a split attachment end and a tapering zoomorphic terminal. The attachment end bifurcates to form two rounded knops, each has a circular perforation which permeates both the upper and lower plate. The narrow opening between the plates is filled with attached soil debris. From the attachment end the sides of the plate bow outwards towards the centre of the plate and then taper gradually towards the zoomorphic terminal.

The plate has been divided into separate fields of decoration; bordering the attachment end, there is a quatrefoil between the perforations, with an interlace triangle (triquetra) on either side. Below these, there is a central zoomorphic plate which is symmetrical. This area has four curving lines which create four corner fields and a central rhombus; the rhombus contains a central pellet and a tear-drop shaped pellet above and below the central pellet. Each of the four corners contains an open-mouthed beast, with an annulet eye and a forked tongue extending into the central rhombus. Below the zoomorphic field there is an area with a circular interlace design which forms the lower portion of the inlaid decoration.

Below this decoration, there is a narrow strip of undecorated silver, which divides the plate from the zoomorphic terminal. On either side there is a raised tear-drop shape, indicating ears, each of which has a V-shaped hollow. The raised ears extend to form a V-shape, which forms the animal's brow-ridge and meet to form a horizontal ridge indicating the bridge of the nose. Between the ears and the nose-bridge, there are four V-shaped incisions with inlaid niello. On either side of the nose, there is a raised pellet, intended to represent the animal's eyes. Between these, the nose flares to fit the terminal of the strap end; it is decorated with a niello rectangle which is split towards the terminal and two small circular hollows indicating nostrils.

The reverse of the strap end is undecorated and there is evidence of slight damage, consisting of a transverse groove, likely where the strap end has been bent; the damage is also visible on the front plate.

The strap end measures 66.6 mm in length, 18.6 mm wide, 4.5 mm thick and weighs 14.4 g.

There are a number of comparable strap ends recorded on the database, including KENT-50DF00 which has a very similar attachment terminal, HAMP-E4F9F7 which has similar ears and BUC-F8B4D5, with a comparable zoomorphic head.