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Description: | A copper alloy figurine probably dating from the Roman period, AD 43 - 410. It is in the form of a bird with a plump, rounded body, the upper side slightly convex, a small, forward facing and tucked down head and a blunt, rounded tail. The back of the bird is marked with a series of narrow incised grooves. Beneath the body are two lugs, one angled forwards and one backwards, creating an inverted V shape between them. Each lug is flat on the inner side, convex on the outer side and rounded at the lower end. The inner sides of the legs are connected by separate circular, copper alloy bar. This could be a hinge mechanism allowing the bird element to pivot sideways. The figurine has a smooth, dark green patina. It is 19.3mm long, from beak to tail, 20.1mm high and 8mm thick. It weighs 7.59gm.Other figurines of this type are recorded on the database: compare for example reference WILT-21E7D7 and LVPL-CAF105 which notes that: "It is difficult to be certain what the original function of the object was. The bird probably attached to a larger object such as a vessel [...] and may have been riveted on using the perforated projections. Alternatively the perforated projections may have held a hinge bar allowing the object to move.Bird mounts are known from a variety of objects in Roman Britain, most commonly as vessel mounts. Many similar mounts are recorded on the PASdatabase, such as NCL-4ABA17, LIN-532BC2, NLM-AC0EA8, YORYM-C8C5F5 (used as a pin), NMS-A116B8 (finial, possibly a cult object), LIN-BE4186 (with open rectangular shank beneath)."
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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