Silver, 0.75 grams, 19.92 mm. 7th-8th century AD. A discoid plate developing into a round-section recurved hook. The plate bears a cast design featuring a cross formed from four loops (a four-way knot) the voids of the upper two loops being pierced to form the attachment points for the hook. Hooked tags were used to fasten a variety of openings on Anglo-Saxon costume, including leg-bindings, purses and cuffs. The rounded form seen on this piece developed alongside the triangular type of tag. The decoration suggest a 7th or early 8th century date for the piece and a possible ecclesiastical context. Reference: MacGregor, A. & Bolick, E. A Summary Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Collections (Non-Ferrous Metals), BAR British Series 230, 1993, p.190 item 32.5. Very fine condition. Provenance: ex Roy Pillington, Louth 1988.