256 (48)

227

Mounts

hole; row of raised dots stamped around edges and sides.

1215    BWB83 5910 (303) 11 figs 15A & 141 Fragment, 27+xl9mm; broken off at large central hole; hole for one rivet; row of stamped circles be-tween parallel engraved lines along sides and surviving edge.

1216    BC72 4143 (88) 11 fig 141

39 x 22mm; trefoil aperture with angled groove at each edge; large central hole, and others for four missing rivets.

The grooved apertures are morę elaborate versions of those on several buckie plates (cf nos. 322 etc).

The surviving leather in no. 1205 provides evi-dence that a possible function of these late 14th/ early 15th-century items was to connect two lengths of strap, but among fmds from Ospringe and Battle Abbey are mounts of this kind in which the leather, although decayed, appears to be continuous through the piąte (AR Goodall 1979, 139 & 141 fig 26 no. 145; Geddes 1985, 158-59 no. 33 - ibid no. 46 is too decayed to be certain about this; thanks to Barry Knight for making it possible to examine the last two objects). The significance of the large holes (in some cases with traces of considerable wear around the edges) in the middle of several of the plates is unknown. The wear does not seem to be at an angle, as on eyelets thought to be wom from buckie pins (see nos. 1218-1228). When the leather beneath sur-vives at this point, it is not always pierced; this seems to argue against these plates having some kind of swivelling latch like those on clasps nos. 570 and 571.

Only no. 1208 of the complete plates listed here is decorative, though some of the incom-plete examples and others elsewhere are ąuite omate (see the parallels cited above, and Henig and Woods in Sherlock and Woods 1988, 211-12 no. 32 fig 68). As with many narrow strap fittings, little strain would have been anticipated for the plates where a strap or straps were held only by a single rivet at each end.

Hinged piąte

1217 BWB83 5 (110) 11 fig 141 Two interconnecting, folded sheet plates; together 26xl3mm; the hinge pivots on a bar; biconcave ends, each with a grooved, round aperture; leather 13mm wide survives from straps (tom off at ends).

The hinged connection gave scope for over 180-degree swivelling, perhaps suggesting a function un-connected with everyday dress, eg armour or horse equipment. The grooved apertures are comparable with, but slightly cruder than those on contemporary composite buckles and strap-ends with forked spacers. Cf MoL acc. no. 107/7, and Henig and Sherlock in Sherlock and Woods 1988, 191 no. 22 and 193 fig 59.

EYELETS

(hole reinforcements)

These were used mainly as surrounds for buckle-pin holes in straps or for lace holes in other items, though some may have been purely decorative. They were presumably attached while the leather was temporarily softened, perhaps with steam or by boiling.

Ali are oflead/tin

1218    SWA81 acc. no. 901 (context 2079) ceramic phase 9 fig 142

Tin (MLC); plain circular; d llmm; back and front identical; wom around edge of hole.

1219    BWB83 5570 (308) 11 fig 142 Incomplete, d 13mm+; two of (?)four tear-shaped lobes survive.

1220    SWA81 4769 (2112) 12 fig 142

Tin (MLC); d llmm, having a crudely engraved quatrefoil motif on the front with an outer stroke framing each side; on one of two associated fragments of leather strap (together totalling 116xl4mm; apparently not originally joined; tom off at each end); there are two further smaller holes along the middle of the piece with the eyelet.

1221    SWA81 880 (2112) 12

Tin (MLC); d 12mm; similar to preceding item and on similar strap.

The preceding two items from the same deposit have the edge of the hole wom on one side, presumably by a buckie pin. They are probably both from the same strap.

1222    SWA81 801 A-D (2106) 12 fig 142

Four high-tin lead alloy (AML) eyelets similar to no. 1218, each d 12-13mm, and each with a scrap of leather attached; two have the edge of the hole wom at one side.