Circa 9th-10th century AD. A narrow copper-alloy strap end of a type influenced by Scandinavian design, the split end plain with a single piercing, and with the rivet still in place; the plate developing into an animal head in plan in the form of a serpent with lentoid eyes and powerful jaws gripping a dragon-head executed in profile with its prominent lower jaw, fangs and snout forming the terminal of the piece; the profile head executed in Ringerike Style and pierced in two places; the whole piece modelled in the round (with detail on the reverse).

LITERATURE:
Cf. Smith, 1923, fig. 131(4).