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Description: | A late early-medieval (c.900-1100) incomplete copper alloy zoomorphic probable hooked tag in the Winchester style with silver inlay and a small amount of openwork decoration. It is missing the hook and probably some of the inlay. It is similar to Read early-medieval Class F, Type 1 single sharp-hooked clasps (Read, 2008; 34, no.141) but with one attachment knop instead of three.The plate is flat and sub-triangular in shape with rounded corners and a circular attachment knop between two sub-circular knops at one end and a three-dimensional animal head collar at the apex (at the juncture of plate and missing hook). Both plate and head are flat to the underside, while the front of the plate is decorated with a central moulded stem with two pairs of short branches/ leaves, the stem terminating in the central circular knop at the attachment end. To either side, and extending from the animal head, is a moulded branch (or perhaps antlers), the fronds of which curl inwards to the stem except for the furthest frond which curls outwards at the attachment end forming the sub-circular knop to either side of the central perforated knop (the perforation measures 1.8mm in diameter). It is between these knops and the central stem that there is a small area of openwork to either side. Silver inlay survives on the pair of short branches nearest the attachment end.The head is D-shaped in cross-section and tear-drop shaped. If there was originally moulded decoration this is now worn away. The eyes are of silver inlay and pointed oval in outline around a central pointed oval, at the centre of which is a tiny circular punch. One eye retains traces of niello between inner and outer components. At the narrowest part of the head is a worn (but rough to touch) break, probably the scar from a missing hook. Where the head joins the plate, to either side there are small moulded triangular ears.To the reverse the surface is quite rough, with yellowy-brown and white substances adhering to much of the surface. The object measures 28.4mm in length, 20.1mm in max.width, 4.7mm in max.thickness (at the head; the plate is 1.8mm thick) and weighs 4.43g.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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