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Description: | An unusual, incomplete artefact cast in copper-alloy of medieval date (c. 11th-12th century AD). It consists of a creature, possibly a bear (L. 22mm, W. 7.3mm), gripping a facing bird. The bird sits on a platform, perhaps formed of the creature's legs, broadly perpendicular to the creature's body. This has broken just beyond the bird revealing a trapezoidal cross-section with rounded corners. The back of the creature curves gradually, bifurcating just beyond this platform. One branch is vestigial and very thin compared to the other. This latter is c. 28mm long with a circular cross-section (max. Th.: 5.2mm). It has a pinched, slightly hooked terminal and is highly polished suggesting that it is not simply a sprue.
The pair of animals are very well moulded with open spaces between their bodies and also between the creature's arms. The creature grips the bird with its outstretched arms; it also grips the bird's beak in its muzzle. The bird is upright with head and beak raised, held by the creature as described (L. 15.9mm, W. 6.9mm, Th. 3.3mm). Its wings are moulded ovals and its tail feathers are delineated by incisions. Within each wing is a short curve of silver inlay. The creature is equally well moulded with elbows, muzzle and ears. The eyes and ears are marked further with circular punches; the muzzle features small incisions and removals to represent nostrils. The same inlay runs down the flank from the head to the arm on one side, continuing into the arm; decoration echoed on the other arm. The flank which retains more inlay also retains more of its incised decoration. There is a line running longitudinally down the back of the creature with diagonal incisions off it below the head. There are further diagonal incisions below the arm, including one retaining silver inlay on the side on which more inlay has survived.
The artefact has corroded slightly, but generally has a dark green patina with the silver inlay quite striking where it survives. The arrangement and varying widths of the tines is unusual and perhaps suggests that they fitted into something, designed to leave only the animals on view. The rendering of the animals suggests a Romanesque date for this artefact (Kevin Leahy pers. comm. 30th August 2007; Leslie Webster pers. comm. 31st August 2007; James Graham-Campbell pers. comm. 2nd September 2007; Anne Pedersen pers. comm. 3rd June 2008). | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Webley, Robert - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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