**Originally Listed At $1500**

Northern Europe, ca. 1000 CE. An amazingly preserved leather strap with six bronze attachments, probably part of strap, maybe part of a horse's tack. The bronze pieces are riveted to the leather and are abstract designs that resemble double-sided fleur-de-lis. The preservation of the leather is excellent. The medieval leather industry is a fascinating one, perhaps forgotten because of the ephemeral nature of most leather - a study of local markets from medieval England found leather-making to be near the top of artisanal professions in terms of wealth and status, and the leather trade was the third most common, after victualing and cloth-making. Imagine this strap on the bag or saddle of a wealthy person, further showing their wealth with the presence of bronze attachments. Size: 3.55" L x 1.05" W (9 cm x 2.7 cm)

Provenance: Ex-Private LA County collection formed over the period between 1980 and 2000.

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#117927

Leather has wear, with missing bronze; one bronze piece has detached.