|
Date: |
|
Description: | Complete copper alloy die, used for making 'pressblech' mounts. The die is rectangular in plan and in cross-section, measuring 32mm by 13mm, and 2mm thick. The die is in perfect condition and apart from developing a mid-green/red patina, is in remarkable condition. The frame of the mount is decorated with ribbing, whilst in each corner is a flat plain square panel. There are thirty (30) ribs on the upper frame, thirty-two (32) on the lower, ten (10) on the left, and nine (9) on the right. The face of the die contains an elaborate Style I animal depicted side on to the right. The animal is an unusual sort of profile quadruped, very clearly and skilfully delineated and very deliberately having a tail and no jaws or beak. To aid the description, one of the images attached to this record has been highlighted; all references to colours below refer to this image. There are two two-toed feet, one just to the right of the centre of the lower edge and one just to the left. On the highlighted image these are shown in green. The tops of the legs have crossing elements, one double (rear leg) and one single (foreleg) - these are in pink and could be called joints. The foreleg crosses the sinuous triple-strand body which is in orange. Behind the rear leg is a curious forked single-strand element (in orange) which is probably a tail, although Style I animals don't generally include tails. In front of the body is the head, with a thick double-strand headframe in pink, an eye in orange and an eye-surround beneath the eye in green. This eye-surround approximates to a cheek. There should also have be jaws (for an animal) or a beak (for a bird), but they aren't there. The Style I dates the die to the early Anglo-Saxon period, 6th century AD.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
DIE
Complete copper alloy die, used…
-
die
Complete copper alloy die, used…
-
-
-
STRAP END
Copper-alloy strap-end, a rather unusual…
-
-
-
HOARD
Hoard of 23 coins, four…
-
PENDANT
Cast copper alloy pendant of…
-
Strap end
Cast copper-alloy strap-end. Double-riveted, convex-sided…
|