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Description: | A complete sheet copper alloy Medieval harness pendant. It is in the shape of a scallop shell and slightly domed, with a cut-away tear-drop shape in the centre. The suspension loop is turned at 90 degrees and is separated from the 'shell' body by a short horizontal collar. The cut-away is outlined by a border pattern, 2mm wide, of small squares. The scallops of the shell are indented, and remains of gilding can be determined. The pendant measures 42.31mm in length, and 30.35mm in width, weighing 6.55g. The scallop shell shape may be more than just decorative, suggesting a connecting with pilgrimage. Hinton illustrates a harness swivel with scallop decoration from Winchester (Biddle 1990, no.3919) and a scallop-shaped pendant from Norfolk is illustrated by Ashley 2002 (fig.25, no4). Further examples from excavated contexts in Norfolk suggest a late twelfth- century date (Ashley 2002, p.26).
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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