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Description: | Copper alloy decorative zoomorphic unidentified object, possibly a decorative fitting, of probable later medieval or post medieval date (1350 ? 1650). The artefact is irregular in plan and sub-rectangular (D shaped) in cross section. In profile the artefact is slightly bowed. The edges on the front face of the artefact are slightly bevelled and the rear face is flat. It is possible that the artefact has been cut from a sheet of copper alloy; however, it is more likely that the object created through casting. The overall shape of the artefact is that of a bird with its wings spread and head turned to one side, in that you can see the shape of the bird in plan and one side of its head. This image of the bird is depicted as a two dimensional representation. It measures 23.7mm length, 20.7mm width, is 2.9mm thick and weighs 3.06 grams.
The front face of the artefact is decorated with a series of incised curvi-linear lines. These lines depict the tail feathers, as well as those on the back and neck of the bird. A series of horizontal and vertical lines depict the feathers on the wings. The head of the bird is depicted by a series of small concentric annulets, for the eye and surrounding features. Above the eye is a small projection, probably some form of crest. The beak decoration is lost through abrasion. The front face of the artefact has also been decorated with a gilt applied surface. The reverse of the artefact is undecorated and plain.
The artefact is a mid green colour with an abraded patina that covers all surfaces. This patina has been removed by abrasion in several places and a mid-purple brown corrosion is present. This abrasion has also distorted both the profile and the symmetry of the artefact; this is most evident in the area around the wings and head.
The function of the artefact is unclear; there are no obvious methods for attaching what is a decorative object to anything else. It is possible that where the edges have been rolled and abraded the join to a fitting has been lost. The only two areas where this is possible are on the tale and on the upper wing. As the decoration has only been applied to one face it seems likely that the artefact would only be displayed on one side. This may suggest that its original purpose was as a decorative fitting, possibly for leather or a wooden casket (or similar). If this is the case then a decorative fitting associated with horse harness may be a possible identification. A similar, but three dimensional, mount of a swan can be seen in Clark?s edited volume The Medieval Horse and its Equipment; p132-134 (fig 323). This fitting is on a rowel spur and in the decorative stylistic terms is similar to the example described above. There is however a clear method for attaching the spur decoration which is unclear in this example. The example in the Horse volume is dated to the 1350?s; however a wider date range has been suggested here due to the unidentified nature of the artefact. The corrosion on the unidentified object could also indicate a later post medieval date. | Format: | text/html | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ | Publisher: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Rights holder: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Subjects: | archaeology | Temporal: | 1350
1650 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Peter Reavill | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
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