The [Romanesque] Chapes Research Project

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petethedig
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The [Romanesque] Chapes Research Project

Post by petethedig »

In the spirit of co-operation and for the greater benefit of the hobby UKDN would like to encourage our membership to help this detecting led project which is currently being published in the Searcher magazine. If you can help or have a query about a find you have then please do contact these guys. Many thanks UKDN Team.

The [Romanesque] Chapes Research Project

This ongoing research project is being conducted by Jim Paterson [Old Yellowbelly of the Searcher magazine] and myself [Peter Woods]. Th results are being published in the Searcher at intervals as and when a new body of material becomes available and there are new developments to report.

The chapes that we are interested to hear about fall into two main categories:

[a] the openwork triangular types

the zoomorphic types.

The triangular types may either be of plain openwork construction e.g.:

CHAPE NO.9C attachment

or, much more rarely, incorporating equine features on the fold e.g.:

ADR CHAPE NO.25A.

The zoomorphic types fall into earlier [? northern] types with a very rudimentary winged horse [or other beast] e.g.

CHAPE 14SC-2 [where the wing appears as a club shape and joins up with the tail to form a triangular aperture]

or the later [? southern] winged horse type where the horse is much more lifelike and the wing appears as a triangle on the horse's back e.g.:

CHAPE 13SC-2.

There are a few oddities as well e.g.:

CHAPES NOS. 6A and 7A.

All of the chapes share the following characteristic - they have all been made by the 'fold-over' technique resulting in the upper and lower sides [mostly] being identical. This gives a fold on one side which fits snugly against one edge of the sheath and the other side is secured by one or two small rivets. The triangular and later zoomorphic types have a side extension with a rivet at the top. This arm is frequently missing as the point of connection with the main part of the chape is an area of weakness.

The triangular types were intended for sheaths with pointed ends and the others were intended for the far less common sheaths with square ends [as per the example found in the Ely excavations].

Most of the known examples have been found by metal-detectorists. Thanks to the efforts of such detectorists we know a great deal more about the development of these chapes than we did two years ago when this project was initiated. Jim Patterson and myself would be delighted to hear from any other metal detectorists who may have found one of these quite uncommon artefact's [even if it is only part of an example]. All confidences will be respected. I may be contacted by e-mail on arestos@talktalk.net.

With thanks,

Peter Woods
Attachments
ADR_CHAPE_NO_25A.jpg
ADR_CHAPE_NO_25A.jpg (83.72 KiB) Viewed 10231 times
CHAPE_13SC-1.jpg
CHAPE_13SC-1.jpg (62.43 KiB) Viewed 10230 times
CHAPE_14SC-2.jpg
CHAPE_14SC-2.jpg (48.75 KiB) Viewed 10224 times
CHAPE_NO_6A.jpg
CHAPE_NO_6A.jpg (109.9 KiB) Viewed 10224 times
CHAPE_NO_7A.jpg
CHAPE_NO_7A.jpg (67.49 KiB) Viewed 10213 times
CHAPE_NO_9C.jpg
CHAPE_NO_9C.jpg (68.5 KiB) Viewed 10204 times

folkert

Re: The [Romanesque] Chapes Research Project

Post by folkert »

Here's a typology from a German book on chapes:
Attachments
band.jpg
band.jpg (21.73 KiB) Viewed 10127 times

folkert

Re: The [Romanesque] Chapes Research Project

Post by folkert »

Here are some reconstructions of (romanesque) chapes
Attachments
REkonstruktion.jpg
REkonstruktion.jpg (35.2 KiB) Viewed 10093 times

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petethedig
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Re: The [Romanesque] Chapes Research Project

Post by petethedig »

Thanks Folkert :clap What we need is for anyone finding such illusive artifacts to help these guys out and show the hobby in a good light, showing that we can be of benefit to the wider community where studies of this type are a fabulous resource to all!

Check your grot boxes guys and gals, there must be a few as yet not found :clap

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Sukisal
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Re: The [Romanesque] Chapes Research Project

Post by Sukisal »

I posted mine off to them and got a fantastic write up on it etc. :D

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yesma100
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Re: The [Romanesque] Chapes Research Project

Post by yesma100 »

For those who didn't know what a Chape is (I was one up til a few seconds ago). Defined in Wikipedea.....The metal fitting where the blade enters the leather or metal scabbard is called the throat, which is often part of a larger scabbard mount, or locket, that bears a carrying ring or stud to facilitate wearing the sword. The blade's point in leather scabbards is usually protected by a metal tip, or chape

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