Strap End with Inset Silver Designs
| Artist | |
| Name | Unknown |
| Basic Info | |
| Period | Middle Ages, Early |
| Created in | Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe |
| Century | 9th-10th century |
| Culture | Anglo-Saxon |
| Dimensions | 5.55 x 1.56 cm (2 3/16 x 5/8 in.) |
| Harvard Museum | |
| Department | Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics |
| Division | Asian and Mediterranean Art |
| Contact | am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu |
Context
This strap end has a curving, molded form, terminating in a stylized zoomorphic head. A thin, pointed snout and two curving ears with circular impressions are clearly visible. Two paisley-shaped moldings define each edge of the upper portion of the strap end; each of these moldings tapers from a wide curving section to a raised knob. Silver decoration is present on all of these four shapes, as well as on the diamond shape between them, the triangular shape above the ears of the animal, and the animal’s brow. The designs on the silver inlay consist of interlocking spirals and other curvilinear shapes. The back is flat and featureless. 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 (1). This example has an animal head terminal, as do many others dated to the ninth to tenth centuries, but its highly modeled sides and top are somewhat unusual (2). NOTES: 1. D. M. Wilson, Anglo-Saxon Ornamental Metalwork 700-1100 in the British Museum (London, 1964) 62-63. 2. Although there are no close parallels, one can compare other elaborate and silver-inlaid strap ends such as Wilson 1964 (supra 1) 29 and 62, no. 135, pl. 42. Lisa M. Anderson
TechnicalDetails
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Purchase through the generosity of Mrs. Waltrud Lampé