STRAP END

A fragment of an early-medieval copper-alloy object, probably a strap-end. The remaining fragment is cast with openwork Urnes-style interlace patterns showing a profile animal in a figure of eight shape. Two main strands of interlace form the design. One thick strand in a figure of eight represents the body of the animal, with its head at the top right and tail top left. The tip of the tail, which would have been clasped in the mouth completing the loop, is now broken and worn. The animal has an upward pointing triangular 'horn' at the top of the gaping jaws. At the back of the creature's head, the strand divides with a thinner part (a 'lappet' or head crest) looping in a circle round the crossed centre of the figure of eight forming a quatrefoil-like openwork pattern. The lappet ends in a curly lobe where it crossed back over itself.

The lower loop of the figure of eight is damaged with almost all the loop missing from worn breaks at each point. The mount is 26 mm long, 17 mm wide and 2 mm thick, with a flat reverse and convex moulded fronts to each strand; the metal is an even dark brown colour.

The use of the Urnes style (with thick and thin strands of interlace and openwork patterns) dates the mount to the eleventh century. It is very similar to SWYOR-009916 on this database. Both are part of a very uniform group of strap ends, part of Thomas Group G, see, for examples, BH-873FF2, NLM-852925, LIN-D9A478, LVPL1462 and NLM4292 on this database.