File:Lyre shaped buckle (FindID 890417).jpg

English: An incomplete copper-alloy, late medieval - post medieval 'lyre-shaped' strap end dating c. AD.1350-1450.

Description: The strap-end has chape formed from a hollow one-piece cast 'box' with two rivet holes in the top corners, which retain the traces of iron rivets. The hollow end is sub-rectangular with a flat front and back although it has been slightly warped. The front has been decorated with two black-letter capitals although they are indistinct due to wear and corrosion. There is a slightly raised ridge at the bottom of the box chape from which projects a long thin worn tab, likely the central element of the now incomplete 'lyre', often these central elements took the form of a standing figure, as on <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/564974" title="View details for HAMP-D78104">HAMP-D78104</a>. The two flanking knops are the broken remains of the lyre shaped frame which would have framed this central element.

Much of the strap-end is heavily worn which obscure much of the detail, this includes the breaks. Where not heavily pitted and patinated a light mottled green the surface of the strap-end remains dark green and smooth.

Measurements: 50.96mm long, 22.78mm wide, 7.14mm thick and 16.4g in weight.

Discussion: 'Lyre-shaped' strap ends date to the late 14th century, such as excavated along the Wirral coast and illustrated by Griffiths et. al. (2007, Pl. 17, No. 765), a number have also been reported to the PAS and are recorded @: <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/176609" title="View details for SUSS-375954">SUSS-375954</a>, <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/730324" title="View details for IOW-52E998">IOW-52E998</a>, <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/850873" title="View details for FAKL-3EEB98">FAKL-3EEB98</a> and <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/735272" title="View details for IOW-35972E">IOW-35972E</a>.