File:Early Medieval - Medieval strap end (FindID 254842).jpg

English: Medieval cast copper alloy strap end terminating in a hook or loop. The strap end is rectangular in plan with slightly bevelled edges and a circular rivet hole in each corner. One end has a loop extending from the centre; the loop is D shaped in section (flat inner side). The loop is made of a hook curved round completely so the ends meet; it appears to be fixed at this point, although that could be corrosion as the terminal is slightly off centre. The end of the hook has zoomorphic moulding, perhaps a dog or wyvern, with a raised bar on the top of the head for the ears, moulded eyes, muzzle and open mouth. The end opposite the hook is shaped with four pointed knops arranged in pairs to either side of a plain incurved central edge. The front of the strap is decorated with an indented panel, rectangular with the ends extending into triangular points. Within the panel is the raised design of a wyvern. The wyvern has a curling, bifurcating tail, two legs ending in three toed claws, wings, a head with pointed ears, muzzle and open mouth from which it breathes a curled, three pronged flame. The front of the strap end outside the panel, the hook and the wyvern are gilded. Details on the wyvern (the mouth, eye, a double collar on the neck and the wings) are picked out in red enamel. In the indented area of the panel around the wyvern the surface is rough with small traces of blue enamel in many places suggesting it was originally all blue. The rectangular plate is 70.3mm long, 27.9mm wide and 2.5mm thick. The hook is 21.3mm by 21.3mm by 6.3mm. The entire piece weighs 47.74 grams. The piece is unusual and no exact parallel has been found in the usual sources however the general form, decoration including the wyvern motif, use of gilding and enamel and the zoomorphic hook terminal can all be paralleled in a range of strap fittings of the late 11th to 12th century. It is likely to be from a robust strap or belt rather than a dress fitting.