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Description: | A cast copper alloy Early Medieval mount with gilding probably dating from about 700 - 900 AD. The object is a flat sheet of copper alloy which is triangular at one end and has broken edges at the other end. The design is divided into two areas, delineated by a wide dark border. It includes a thick dark border around the edges. In the triangular area is an iron rivet; corrosion from this obscures most of the design, but a pair of opposing scrolls can just be seen. The other area is D-shaped in plan and is decorated with a central chevron pointing towards the triangular area. Between the chevron and the triangular area are two matching triquetral interlace designs enclosed by triangles, one design in each corner. The design inside the chevron is unclear. The mount is gilded on the upper face. The reverse is undecorated. A sub circular raised area on the back marks the placement of the broken rivet. The mount has a black patina on the front and a black and dark red patina on the reverse. The breaks are also patinated.The design is similar to SF8875 which has similar interlace designs around a central lozenge shaped area. Susan Youngs has commented on htis record that mounts with this type of decoration and pierced lugs for attachment belong to a group which is culturally Irish. They were mounted onto both wood and leather, and may either be harness mounts, or mounts from shrines, caskets and so on. A parallel on the database is from Sharnford, Leicestershire (LEIC-09D1C8) and others are known widely distributed across Britain, probably as the result of Viking activity. This type of metalwork also provided the decorative elements set into the top of Viking-age lead weights. She has also suggested that the dating may continue well into the 9th century (Youngs 2001). However, the current example does not have a pierced attachment lug.The design can also be paralleled by 8th century pin heads, particularly SF2798 which has evidence of a secondary use, and is a similar shape to this item. The iron rivet may suggest re-use on this example. Compare also NMS-71CF44, NLM-028751 and SWYOR-3DEE70.Length: 25.4mm; Width: 17.6mm; Thickness: 3.1mm; Weight: 2.52g
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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