EARLY MEDIEVAL STRAP END

800

An incomplete silver Anglo-Saxon strap-end of Thomas's Class A type 1, with convex sides and a zoomorphic terminal in the form of an animal's head. The majority of the strap-end survives, but part of the zoomorphic terminal is now lost, beneath the animal's ears. The split attachment end is fan-shaped with two circular perforations but no surviving rivets. The strap-end is slightly bent upwards towards the terminal end. The main panel of decoration is broadly rectangular, and is filled with engraving around a reserved Trewhiddle-style animal. Traces of niello are visible, but the condition of the piece and some tracs f green copper alloy corrosion obscure finer details of the decorative scheme.The edges of the strap-end are decorated with horizontal nicks but stop at the terminal.The reverse is undecorated and appears to have a rough surface with some iron corrosion located around the bend and the break, perhaps resulting from contact with an iron object in the ground.