POST MEDIEVAL STRAP FITTING

1575

A copper alloy Post Medieval strap fitting; a belt fastener or buckle in the form of a S shaped snake, probably dating from AD 1575 - 1900. The features of the snake; eyes and scales, are clearly depicted on one face. The reverse is covered with transverse line mouldings. It has a dark brown patina. Compare IOW-832BD6 and SWYOR-64EEF7. The snake is 40.6mm long, 20.2mm wide and 5.3mm thick. 13.7g.Similar examples are illustrated in Gordon Bailey's Detector Finds 3 (1997), pages 20-21. Bailey states that the 'snake form belt hooks' became popular during the 16th century, where an example can be seen in the portrait of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, in about 1575. The fastener was part of a sword belt, and was used in place of the normal buckle. It is likely that these strap fittings would have been tinned or gilded. The snake belt hook would seem to have fallen from fashion by the 17th century, and remained so until the end of the 18th century, when it was favoured by the military (Bailey, page 20).