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Description: | A copper-alloy mount from a Medieval harness decoration.The piece takes the form of a three-dimensional representation of a standing bird of prey. The bird, which stands facing forwards, is well moulded, if somewhat stylised, the flattened undersides of the body and neck giving a slightly truncated appearance. A moulded ridge extends transversely across the head, with a single incised eye visible. The closed beak is of 'D-shaped' section and curves downwards. The slender neck, also of 'D-shaped' section, extends smoothly into the body, which is roughly drop-shaped when viewed from above. The wings, which divide the convex upper surface in half, are separated from each other by a shallow groove, extending the length of the body. On the surface of each wing, traces of a series of segmented longitudinal grooves create the impression of feathers. The squared-off tail projects a short distance beyond the tips of the wings and has grooved segmentation. Short transverse grooves have also been used to denote feathers on both the upper and lower surfaces of the neck, in the latter case continuing throughout the underside of the body and tail. The upper legs are of squared appearance, with flat surfaces and right-angled corners. The lower legs are narrower and of sub-rectangular section. A rectangular-sectioned slot separates the two legs. No feet are depicted; instead, the lower legs extend directly into a cuboidal block, from the centre of the underside of which projects part of an integral rivet of circular section. Traces of gilding survive across all surfaces of the corroded artefact.Dimensions: length: 39mm; width: 9.9mm; height: 29.5mm. Weight: 10.49g.Parallels for this piece include PAS records SUSS-180097, LANCUM-18E2D4 (on review) and NLM-6AFB72. The latter, found at Howden, East Yorkshire, survives in situ, surmounting a central column and surrounded by three further arms, to which pendants would originally have been attached.
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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