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Unique ID: FAHG-8EAAA3
Object type certainty: Possibly
Workflow
status: Published
Flat object, possibly a mount, apparently made from copper alloy, in the shape of a horned figure carrying two spears. The object appears to be complete except for one lower corner, but depicts the figure from the waist up only. The lower edge is slightly incurved and is raised; the raised edges of the sides are formed from the shafts of the spears.
The figure is wearing a battle tunic with the normal cross-over opening shown in relief, and has thin arms bent at the elbow to grip each spear at shoulder height. The face has a large open drooping mouth and may have a small pointed beard; above are a small nose, small eyes and large cheeks. The head carries a large pair of horns which meet at the top to form a ring; they are bent forward and so the details on the photo are unclear, but on the (rectified) drawing they are shown as decorated with a row of raised squares (ladder pattern) and ending in conjoined confronting birds' heads.
The reverse is not shown on either photo or drawing, but something (perhaps a large attachment rivet) can be seen emerging from behind the head on the photo. There are no scales to the images and so the dimensions are unknown.
The motif of a figure with horns and carrying a pair of spears is well known from early seventh-century art; parallels include the Finglesham buckle.
Notes:
The object has not been seen and the description has been made from the attached photo and drawing. It was apparently found in Cambridgeshire, and was not recorded when originally found; it spent a short time in a private collection in Germany (information and pictures from Paul Mortimer to Helen Geake, June 2009). The drawing is by Paul's friend Lindsay Kerr. The object's current whereabouts are unknown, but a photograph was included as plate 52a in S. Pollington, L. Kerr and B. Hammond, 'Wayland's Work: Anglo-Saxon art, myth and material culture from the 4th to the 7th century' (Anglo-Saxon Books, 2010). The object's history of having been bought and sold rather than recorded with the PAS has sadly stripped it of all provenance.
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Current location of find: unknown
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Anglo-Saxon style
Date from: AD 600
Date to: AD 650
Quantity: 1
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 1st June 2009
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No references cited so far.