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Date: |
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Description: | A small, cast copper-alloy annular brooch with zoomorphic decoration of medieval date (c. 13th century AD). It shows two creatures of equal length biting each others' tails in moulded heads. The frame has a broadly circular cross section: the circumference is rounded, while the internal side is bevelled above and below; both outer surfaces are flat. Located centrally between the moulded heads is a pin constriction. A basic flat, wire pin survives in situ with an abraded tip. The two animal heads are identical and prominently moulded in high relief. The emerge from the frame with moulded, pointed ears and continue upwards to terminate in a faceted snout. Removals to each side of the snout represent nostrils. The upper surface is decorated with finely punched dots between the ears and nostrils. The brooch survives well, with minimal damage, and now has a dark-green patina.The design of this brooch can be paralleled by examples recorded on this database, refs.: NMS-6B5266, WAW-41E2A1, NMS-7353C6, NCL-9C1035, BH-006B76. The first two references quoted are comparable in size to this artefact; the other three are larger. On other records it has been suggested than the animals represented are serpents, although the ears noted seem to suggest they might more likely be dragons, known also for bitings each others' tails in medieval art.
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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