strapends

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Strap ends - all periods

C10thC Anglo Saxon strap end 18.48g, 34.41mmL x 18.33mmW x6.53mm H

Only one of it's type found in Britain - donated to Colchester museum by NovaScotia Andy

'It is probably an insular copy of a Carolingian style, or it could even be the product of a workshop located on the fringes of the Carolingian continent, maybe somewhere like Domburg on the coast of Frisia. 10th - 11th century in date'.

Stunning zoomorphic c10thC Saxon strap end - 2 rivet fixings still in place

50.35mm L x 9.61mm W ,13.14g

Unusual Roman strap end

Huge C 9thC Viking 'Ladder of life' strapend - theses are known for being unusually large

70.23mm L x 28.15mm W, 43.24g

C8thC Viking fretwork 'ladder of life' strapend - blue and green enamel remains

Fragment of a Late Saxon copper alloy openwork strap-end of Thomas 2004 Class E, Type 1,

C8thC Viking fretwork 'ladder of life' strapend - these are well known for being unusually large

53.95mm L x 29.77 mm W

C8thC Viking fretwork strapend

5.82g, 44.44mm L x 11.91mm W

Early-Medieval date, c.AD 800 - 900. Thomas' Class A, Type 1 with Trewhiddle style decoration.

ESS-977D67 Saxon STRAP END (Certain)

A cast copper alloy incomplete Early Medieval strap end. This is a Thomas Class A type dating from circa AD 800-950. What remains is the zoomorphic terminal and the lower part of the plate. There is a worn break one third up the plate where the rest of the plate and the attachment end has broken off. The terminal consists of the head of an animal with a flat nose, cast large oval depressions for eyes, and prominent ears. Above the head the plate flares out to form what would have been convex sides. The centre of the plate is not solid but open. There are engraved spirals up the sides. The reverse is plain and flat. The object has a reddish brown patina which appears to be rust. There are patches of light green corrosion product on the abraded areas. Length 31.12mm, width 14.12mm, thickness 5.62mm, weight 8g.

cf Thomas, G ' Late Anglo-Saxon and Viking-Age strap-ends 750-1100, Part 1', pages 2-3, Class A

Class: Class A

Chronology

Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 800
Date to: Circa AD 950

Dimensions and weight

Length: 31.12 mm
Width: 14.12 mm
Thickness: 5.62 mm
Weight: 8 g
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Zoomorphic
Completeness: Incomplete

ESS-9E4FB2 STRAP END

2010 T167 Early Medieval strap end

Date of Discovery: 12th March 2010

Circumstances of discovery: Whilst searching with a metal detector.

Description: Early-Medieval Thomas Class A Type 1 strap end, cast in high tin copper alloy. The strap end is sub-rectangular in plan and rectangular in profile, increasing in thickness towards the terminal. There are two circular rivet holes at the split end; the copper alloy rivets survive but have become detached. The upper surface is decorated with a stylized foliate design, similar to the 'speckled fruiting plant' seen in Thomas (2003) figure 1.3. The terminal depicts a stylised animal head, with two large sub-rectangular 'ears' still visible, the remainder of the head is worn, however there are two slightly raised areas to either side that would have represented the eyes. The reverse of the strap end is plain undecorated. It is 36.18mm long, measures 10.66mm across the widest point, has a maximum thickness of 2.71mm and weighs 2.52 grams.

Date: Anglo-Saxon strap ends date from 740-1100AD, peaking in the 9th century. It is likely that this example is of 9th century date.

Disposition: Not Treasure. The finder reported this as treasure believing it to be silver. However, the strap end does not contain a minimum of 10% precious metal and therefore falls outside the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.

Laura McLean Finds Liaison Officer, Essex Colchester & Ipswich Museum Service April 2010

References: Thomas, G. (2003) Late Anglo-Saxon and Viking-age strap-ends 750-1100. Parts 1 and 2. Finds Research Group 700-1700

Class: Thomas Class A Type 1

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Donated to museum

Treasure details

Treasure case tracking number: 2010 T167

Chronology

Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 800
Date to: Circa AD 900

Dimensions and weight

Length: 36.18 mm
Width: 10.66 mm
Thickness: 2.71 mm
Weight: 2.52 g
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete

Very interesting decorated c.AD 800 - 900 Saxon strap end with eye fitting - single rivet fixing remaining

Early-Medieval date, c.AD 800 - 900. Thomas' Class A, Type 1 with Trewhiddle style decoration.

An incomplete late Medieval cast copper-alloy composite strap-end, dating to c.1300-1450. Comprising of a facetted lozenge-knop terminal

An incomplete copper alloy strap end of the early medieval period (AD750-950). The strap end is of Thomas' Class A, Type 1 with zoomorphic terminal

A near complete Early-Medieval cast copper alloy strap-end, classified as Thomas's (2003, 2) Class A, Type 2. This would date the artefact to around the 9th century AD.

Within this is an almost symmetrical design of interlaced decoration. Below this scene the mount has incised decoration creating a zoomorphic style terminal This includes comma-shapes, ears and a snout.

A near complete Early-Medieval cast copper alloy strap-end, classified as Thomas's (2003, 2) Class A, Type 2. This would date the artefact to around the 9th century AD.

An incomplete Medieval copper-alloy strap end, dating to c.AD 1350 - 1450. Lyre shaped strap end (also known as a 'box chape'). The strap-end has been cast in one piece. The hollow end is sub-rectangular with a flat front and back, each with a decoratively cut edge at the open end. The front has been decorated with an uncertain black-letter initial. Two iron rivets remain in situ in the open end. The hollow end tapers slightly and then curves to a much thinner narrow waist, at the point where the hollow attachment end stops. The terminal of the strap end then starts, this terminates in old worn breaks.

A complete copper-alloy composite Strap-End of Medieval date (AD 1300-1400). The object is composed of two sheets of copper alloy attached at the terminal by a perforating, circular sectioned, rivet. The sheets are rectangular and flat and taper towards the terminal which is trefoil or knob.

An incomplete copper-alloy strap end of Early-Medieval date, c.AD 800 - 1000. Probably Thomas' Class D. Only a small portion of the strap end remains which is sub-trapezoidal in plan and section. It has been made from a single piece of copper-alloy which splits to form the attachment. Centrally positioned rivet holes are present on the split pieces close to the attachment edge.The front of the strap end is worn though bears of a punched ring and dot design with a second pellet in the space between the ring and the dot.

An incomplete cast copper-alloy forked spacer from a medieval composite strap-end dating c.AD1270-1350 Description: The spacer has two straight prongs of unequal lengths