SCABBARD

Copper alloy scabbard chape of late, Early Medieval date, c. 1000-1150. The chape is formed from a single piece of sheet metal that has been folded in two forming two equal plates with the fold at the base. Both plates have been shaped to resemble a bird. The bird is shown with furled wings that protrude over its back and narrow to a curved pointed tip.  A narrow neck leads to a rounded head that has a square protrusion on the top forming a crest and a triangular protrusion with a V-shaped notch to the front representing the open beak of the bird.  Trefoil feet extend to the front of the body whilst a rectangular tail extends to the rear with the end of the tail seeing the curved join between the two plates. Two copper alloy rivets join the two plates together, one is mounted in the centre of the feet and the second is in the centre of the head forming the eye of the bird.  The animal is further decorated with a series of stamped pellets that run around the perimeter of the beast’s neck, body and wings.

Other similar examples are recorded on the PAS database, such as LIN-3DE8C7, SF-29459A, WAW-03F886, BH-9C3582, DUR-7DA853 and SUSS-77F477. They have been thought to be end protectors for c. 11th-century knife scabbard. Stylistically, these pieces are thought to be of Anglo-Norman derivation, spanning the conquest period to the earlier part of the 12th century.