MEDIEVAL DRESS FASTENER (DRESS)

1450

Hooked part of a medieval copper alloy blunt-hooked dress fastener incorporating a sheet strap end. The hook consists of a folded piece of wire with ends turned outwards to form a bar that turns within the fold of a sheet plate, a rectangular piece folded widthways and secured by a pair of rivets (one missing) near the attachment edge. One corner of the rear part is missing as is rather more of the front part, which is decorated with two saltires executed in lines of finely executed interrupted rocker-arm engraving giving the appearance of tiny addorsed triangles. Read's (2008) early post-medieval Class C type 1. Length 22.5mm (plate only 14.5mm). 14.2mm. c.1450 - c.1540.