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Description: | A Romano-British copper alloy vessel mount in the form of a Bull. At the widest parts the mount measures 37mm in length, 31mm in width and 27mm in depth.The bull is shown semi-naturalistically in three dimension emerging from a backplate. The backplate is an upside-down trapezoid that is flat on the reverse and has a circular hole 5mm in diameter at the bottom. The backplate measures 24mm in width, 27mm in length and 3mm thick. The front of this trapezoid plate bears a moulded decoration depicting the front legs to either side. Each leg runs the entire length of the backplate, either leg being circa 20mm in length and being 4mm in width. Both legs are angled inwards in the centre representing the joint before the hoof. The hoof has a centre dividing line bringing out the detail. The circular hole is located between the hooves. On the front the hole is countersunk.The large head of the bull emerges from beween the legs at the top. The head is solid and semi-naturalistic, sub-rectangular in cross-section. From the horns to the end of the snout measures 18mm. The head tapers from 10mm in width to 7mm at the snout. In depth the head tapers from 13mm at the horns to 8mm at the snout. A ring and dot on either side marks the eyes. The snout is flat and the mouth is open as if the animal is bellowing. When the mouth is viewed face on thers is a small piece of moulded copper alloy to the bottom left that might be representing the tongue. On the top of the head are two large inward curving horns forming a large crescent. The horns are oval in cross-section at the base, measuring 7mm by 9mm. The horns taper to the tip, gradually becoming circular in cross-section. Below the horns are two ears. Both ears are leaf-shaped, concave and marked with a deep groove down the centre on the interior. Each ear measures 14mm in length and 6mm in width.The reverse of the head shows various methods of attachment. At the top of the trapezoid plate there is an oval concave area above which the plate begins to curve over to a right angle, at which point the plate is broken. Above the plate, and extending from the top of the head on the reverse is a curving strip of copper alloy that may have formed a loop. This loop is incomplete. a number of other bovine vessel mounts are known from England, many of which are recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database, however this is by far the best quality example so for recorded. This mount would have been attached to the side of a vessel near the rim. The vessel would most likely have been used during ritual ceremonies. Not only are bovine mounts used to decorated the sides of vessels, they were also used as spouts. Two particularly fine examples of bovine spouts are known from Lincolnshire; one is from Wickenby (NLM-5DF5D6), and the other is from Kirmington (see front cover illustration in May, J. 1976. Prehistoric Lincolnshire. Lincoln).
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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