Strap End

1 of 2

Artist
Name	Unknown
Basic Info
Alternative Title	Attachment
Period	Middle Ages, Early
Created in	Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe
Century	7th century
Culture	Italian, Lombard
Dimensions	6.1 x 0.6 x 0.5 cm (2 3/8 x 1/4 x 3/16 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 would have been one part of a set of belt fittings. The overall shape is roughly triangular, with the sides scalloped and the underside hollow (1). There are four concentric circle decorative elements on the top, with a fifth, smaller concentric circle and round knob protrusion on the bottom. On the top, there are two loops, but the top section of both loops is missing. On the back, two rectangular strips of metal stick out with a small hole in each for attachment. 
 
NOTES:
 
1. Compare W. Menghin, ed., The Merovingian Period. Europe without Borders: Archaeology and History of the 5th to 8th centuries, exh. cat., Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow; Hermitage, St. Petersberg (Berlin, 2007) 555, no. 8.15.2.
 
Lisa M. Anderson

TechnicalDetails

Technical Observations

The patina is green and brown with a few spots of cuprite. This object is in good structural condition, although the two loops at the top are not complete. Coarse file marks on one side of the strap end go through the corrosion products and into the metal, and they may have been produced during the cleaning of the piece sometime after its excavation.
 
This object was cast in one piece with the two loops on the underside. The upper surface of the piece is smooth except for the circular decorations that appear to have been fashioned with a type of compass, which became slightly misaligned. Without further evidence, it is difficult to tell whether the indentations and protrusions on the sides of the object were enhanced by cold working.
 
Francesca G. Bewer (submitted 2001)

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Transfer from the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University