Strap End with Four Stylized Anglo-Saxon Animals

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Artist
Name	Unknown
Basic Info
Period	Middle Ages, Early
Created in	Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe
Century	9th century
Culture	Anglo-Saxon
Dimensions	3.38 x 1.32 cm (1 5/16 x 1/2 in.)
Harvard Museum
Department	Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics
Division	Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact	am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu

Context

This elliptical strap end terminates in a zoomorphic head, with snout, brow, and ears clearly visible. Below the rivet holes, an abstract depiction appears within a pelta-shape. The central portion of the strap end is divided into four sections, each depicting a stylized animal in profile. The edge of the strap end has a raised rope-like pattern. The back is flat and featureless (1).
 
Strap ends are a relatively common item in medieval northern Europe; they would have adorned the ends of leather or cloth straps on belts and perhaps other types of equipment (2).
NOTES:
 
1. Compare D. M. Wilson, Anglo-Saxon Ornamental Metalwork 700-1100 in the British Museum (London, 1964) 174, no. 82, pl. 30; and D. A. Hinton, A Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Ornamental Metalwork 700-1100 in the Department of Antiquities Ashmolean Museum (Oxford, 1974) 60, no. 31; and 65, no. 37.
 
2. Wilson 1964 (supra 1) 62-63.
 
Lisa M. Anderson

TechnicalDetails

Chemical Composition

Technical Observations

The patina is a saturated olive green, probably due to waxing; the white accretions in the recesses are probably wax as well. The metal has corroded to some extent during burial. The fragile, fine edges have broken off in a few places, revealing lighter green mineralized areas. The losses include the top of the bifurcated end, where the two rivet holes have been transformed into semicircular notches. The surface was no doubt also cleaned mechanically after excavation. There are scratches and porosity on the reverse. 
 
The object was cast in one piece. Whether some of the design on the front was created in the model before casting or was entirely carved into the metal is unclear, but certainly, there are traces of faceted chiseling visible in the metal. The slightly notched line along the outer edges of the long sides may have been inlayed with metal wire.
 
Francesca G. Bewer (submitted 2012)

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Purchase through the generosity of Mrs. Waltrud Lampé