STRAP END

A medieval copper alloy composite strap-end, comprising two plates 0.8mm and 0.5mm thick with a solid strip between c.2mm thick. The strip extends for c. 3/4 of the length of the plates. The body of the strap-end has parallel sides 7.2mm wide and the open end has a V-shape cut reaching to the centre from either corner. At the opposite end is a narrow (3.3mm wide and 3.2mm thick) projection extending into a rib below a three dimensional ovo/ egg shape. From the other end a flat fleur de lis extends.The plates and central strip extend all the way to the fleur-de-lis. There is an additional D-shaped plate, D-shaped in cross-section, affixed to the ovo to give it its rounded dimensions. These appear to be of a different copper alloy to the rest of the object, one being brown in colour in contrast to the bluey-green of the rest of the strap-end. These five pieces are held together by a non-protruding rivet 1.5mm in diameter. A further rivet roughly halfway along the body is also non-protruding and 1.5mm in diameter. A last rivet is visible at the open end, non-protruding to the reverse bu globular to the opposite face and 3mm in diameter.
The object measures 59.1mm in length, 7.2mm in max.width, 5.8mm in max.thickness (at the ovo) and weighs 7.39g. Both faces are patchy with corrosion and the long marks on one side are possibly recent plough damage.