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Description: | A complete copper alloy zoomorphic mount of medieval date. The mount is in the form of an elongated, slender, winged beast or bird and is probably from a small box or casket. The head of the bird has a pronounced brow and projecting pointed beak, to either side of which circular indentations representing eyes are present. From the back of the head a circular sectioned neck extends into a D-sectioned body. The body is decorated with a central incised spine flanked by transverse incisions and a curved frame representing feathered wings. The wings come together at a point after which a rectangular tail extends with short incised lines representing feather mouldings. Two holes for attachment are present, one through the tail and one at the base of the wings. Traces of silvering survive across the surface of the mount.The base of the mount is flat except for a short, sub-rectangular hook which extends from below the neck. This hook is likely to have secured the mount to the rim of the box to which it was attached.The metal has a dark-green patina and is worn. The mount is 37.4mm long, 6.1mm wide, 9.4mm thick with the hook, 4.3mm thick without the hook and weighs 3.8g.Similar examples have been recorded on the PAS database. For examples see: SWYOR-346572, LIN-6C3725, SF-8E6271, NLM-CA23E3 and SWYOR-761334.This object is similar to stapled hasps used to secure the lid of caskets or chests. A hasp would have been attached to the lid of the casket at the head, and near the base a staple was used which fitted into a slot in the face of the container; it was then secured by a sliding lock bolt. Zoomorphic terminals like this were quite common on stapled hasps.Although a stratified parallel has not yet been found, it is likely considering the style of the group that they all belong to the earlier part of the medieval period, probably the 12th century.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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