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Description: | An incomplete and very worn sheet copper-alloy harness pendant suspension mount. Now roughly circular in shape, measuring c24.3mm in diameter. This pendant suspension mount has the remains of a sheet folded hinge, formed of two folded arms with a slot inbetween them, through which a horizontal bar could have passed from which a harness pendant would have hung. There is a circular perforation through the centre of the suspension mount, measuring 2.8mm in diameter, probably a large rivet hole to attach the pendant suspension mount to a harness strap. Surrounding this perforation there is a worn incised star, and surrounding this there are many small impressed ring and dot motifs, which are also worn and appear to ahev been arranged randomly. Tiny traces of possible gilding can also be seen. The back face is undecorated. This pendant suspension mount is almost identical to one found in Norfolk, the size, shape and decoration is the same, although the Norfolk example is complete, with hanging pendant, similar pendants have also be found in excavations of castle Rubercy, Normandy, these Norman examples are dated to the second half of the 12th century (Ashley 2002, 6-7, fig 6, no 7). The central star, which on other examples also has a central boss, may have symbolic meaning, Steven Ashley suggests that it bears resemblance to the comet (minus tail) shown in the Bayeux tapestry. This comet ('Halleys' comet) first appeared for a week in 1066 and was linked to the Norman conquest in contemporary imagaination. He suggests that the renowed heavenly portent was retained in folk memory and was a popular choice for decoration of shields and harness (Ashley 2002, 7). | Subjects: | pendant suspension mount | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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