Sheath

Leather knife sheath; the handle section has a wing or extension to one side. The sheath is decorated on the front and back with impressed interlace (mainly on the front) and the decoration is separated into two sections reflecting the handle and blade areas. The decoration is similar to that found on another sheath from London with a three stranded plait on the front blade section with fine impressed lines to simulate fibres and the handle area with further criss-cross plaiting (see Cowgill et al 1987, 134, fig 87, no 409 and discussion on page 41). The back has some linear impressed decoration. The seam is centre back and has edge/grain stitch holes. There would originally have been a small triangular insert in this seam, but this is now missing. There are two suspension slots in the wing part of the handle area.

The form and decoration are similar to sheaths from 12th and 13th century contexts in Dublin (Cameron, 2007). This example has been published: Ward-Perkins, J.B., London Museum Medieval Catalogue, London, 1940, 191 & Pl XL, no. 1