File:A late medieval iron and copper alloy end plate of a knife handle, dating to the late 15th-early 16th century. (FindID 589630).jpg

English: A late medieval iron and copper alloy end plate of a knife handle, dating to the late 15th-early 16th century. The iron strip tang is sheathed on both sides with copper alloy sheeting. The decorated sheets are rectangular in shape with a rounded end. On one side there is an engraved bust of a girl. The girl is wearing a hat, the style of which is difficult to discern, with long hair detailed either side of the head and neck. She appears to be wearing a round necked dress and a necklace, which disappears beneath the linear border surrounding her. On the opposite side is an engraved scroll design, running diagonally across the plate. There is some writing within the scroll that is difficult to discern and decoration in the opposite corners which is equally difficult to identify.

A similar example found on the PAS database is believed to be Flemish in origin and the image of the girl that of St Barbara (IOW-36C2D6). Also, what appears to be hair in this example has been identified as a veil in the other. An example with similar decoration, found in Amsterdam, dates between AD1475-1525 (Baart et al., 1977, no. 625a-b).

Dimensions: length: 15.24 mm; width: 12.73 mm; thickness: 3.78 mm; weight: 4.76g.

Reference: Baart, J. Krook, W. Lagerweij, A. Ockers, N. van Regteren Altena, H. Stam, T. Stoepker, H. Stouthart, G. Van Der Zwan, M. 1977. Opgravingen in Amsterdam. Fibula-Van Dishoeck, Haarlem, Amsterdam.