MEDIEVAL STRAP FITTING

1066

Plate, perhaps from a strap clasp or book clasp, made by folding a long rectangular strip of copper alloy in half. There is a wide circular gap at the fold, 5.5 mm in external diameter. The strip tapers at the fold to 6 mm wide, presumably to accommodate some kind of frame. One half is decorated with an engraved motif, probably a plant, which has two decorated leaves and a triangular flower in the centre. To either side is rocker-arm engraving. The plant appears to be the right way up when the plate is held with the fold downwards.