Inlaid iron fragment with textile remains

Piece of iron plate, max. length now 2cm, roughly triangular. In the centre a cabochon or white shell with central garnet recessed in, itself curved and set on chequered gold foil - the whole held in a bronze collar enclosed in a frame of beaded silver (gilt?) wire. On the back there appears a bronze rivet head from the rivet which secured the cell to the iron plate. As now preserved, the cell in central to the plate: the remainder of the surface of this plate is covered with flat silver wires inlaid. On one side, abutting the cell, is a border of sloping step-pattern inside two straight wire borders - this side shows slight traces of recent breakage. Meeting this border at an oblique angle on the opposite side of triangle is another straight wire which had evidently formed part of a similar border, but this edge shows clear signs of recent damage. The third edge appears intact, with old corrosion, and here again there appears to be a border with two straight wires. The space thus enclosed has a pattern of zig-zag and one semi-circular motifs.Vera Evison discusses question of scabbard fitting, and compares with knife sheath in Leiden Museum (pl. ix.d).