File:Early Medieval to Medieval chape (FindID 442430).jpg

The lower portion of the artefact consists of two openwork plates of equal form, which are joined by a folded connection strip, located at the far end. Ay the opposite end, a pair of parallel-sided arms angle upwards at approximately 80 degrees, each terminating in a lozenge-shaped lobe with a transverse collar at the base. A copper-alloy rivet links these two lozenge-shaped terminals together; a second such rivet is located at the bottom corner, where there are two projecting lobes. The openwork design is irregular in plan and the nature of the decoration is unclear. The flat areas around the perforations bear lines of stamped or punched marks, possibly with a corroded niello infill. The object measures 28.9mm long, 6.8mm wide and 36.2mm high. The weight is 4.72g.

Several similar artefacts have been recorded on the PAS database. The style of these pieces ranges from reasonably clear depictions, often with a horse and rider design - see, for example, BH-71DB92 - to heavily stylised designs such as this. Peter Woods (2006) suggests that they are probably chapes from knife scabbards. The suggested date is 11th century.