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Description: | A cast copper-alloy decorative mount, probably a book fitting, dating from the c. 12th-15th century AD. The fitting is lozenge-shaped in plan, the apex of each angle decorated with a trefoil knop; each trefoil knop has bifurcated side-knops. The upper and lower trefoil end-knops have circular rivet holes which are filled with large knopped rivets; the underside of the rivets is visible protruding slightly on the reverse of the fitting. The side end-knops have circular rivet holes, but these are missing rivets. The edges of the lozenge in between the trefoil end-knops are straight and have no further moulded decoration. The reverse of the fitting is umbonate behind the central moulded decoration, but flat elsewhere, save for one edge which has become bent, probably from in situ damage. The outer face of the fitting has been elaborately decorated with raised curving edges corresponding to the outer edge of each trefoil knop, emphasising the bifurcated side-knops, perhaps suggesting petals or leaves. Below each end-knop is a raised double collar; connected to these collars is a linear border pattern of small raised transverse ridges, which follow the perimeter of the straight edge of the lozenge-shaped plate. In addition, there are raised double ridges running parallel between each end-knop decoration to a central large moulded zoomorphic head. From the side end-knops, the length of these ridges is shorter than the vertical ridges running parallel from the top and bottom end-knops. Each set of these parallel double ridges is decorated in the same fashion, with evenly spaced incised horizontal lines connecting the two parallel ridges. The central decoration is that of a raised moulded zoomorphic head, possibly of a lion, in the Romanesque style. The head consists of two triangular ears flanking four raised tightly coiled or wound segments of hair or fur, which have been emphasised with many incised lines; below this are two horizontal brow ridges, beneath which are symmetrically positioned almond-shaped eyes, which are divided by an elongated nose or snout, which follows smoothly from the brow ridges above. Underneath the almond-shaped eyes, a series of small incised lines follows directly from the lower raised parallel ridge and decoration to the right and left of the head. The animal's cheeks are high and rounded and they flank a pair of symmetrical nostrils, emphasised by incised ovals. The animal's mouth is positioned below the head and curves downwards; it is of an elongated loop-shape. Small fragments of what seem to be gilding are visible on the outer face, suggesting that the entire raised decoration was further embellished by gilt decoration. The mount has an overall medium green colour and patina, with some minor areas of reddish-green discolouration. Cf. PAS database records: SF-B4AB47, NMGW-98E5C7, SWYOR-A0F432, NARC-FE8366, NMS118.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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