MEDIEVAL STRAP FITTING

1300

Large rectangular copper-alloy mount, measuring 45 x 32 mm. Each of the corners has decorative cut-outs, which meet in the centre of the short edges with a V-shaped cut-out which runs into the interior of the mount as a groove. In the centre of the mount is a circular hole 5 mm in diameter, and in each corner is a separate 4 mm long copper-alloy rivet. The mount is decorated with lines of rocker-arm engraving; between each rivet and the short edge is a short line of rocker-arm parallel to the edge, and the rest of the space on the mount is filled with four rocker-arm saltires. The central hole may be decorative or may serve to reinforce on the pin holes on the strap. Probably 14th century.