HANGING BOWL

Early Medieval cast copper alloy applique for a hanging bowl with red enamel inlay and possibly devolved zoomorphic decoration, probably of 7th century date. The applique is almost flat with the ends bent back slighty, possibly from damage or to fit the curve of the bowl. In plan it has two oval expansions flanked by projecting pairs of triangular 'jaws' at each end. One triangular projection is missing from one end with and old, corroded, break. The front is decorated with recessed cells between raised edges creating a simple interlace design in which the curved lines of the animals bodies follow the outer edge of the oval sections, crossing in the centre and each ending in a recessed circular cell creating an eye at the junction between the oval sections and 'jaws'. One eye has a raised pellet in the centre of the cell, one is plain. The recessed cells on the bodies, between the bodies and on the jaws contain decayed remains of red enamel. In some areas this has developed a creamy surface corrosion. There is no clear evidence of a white metal coating. The back is plain with some areas of thickened, paler corrosion which may be the remains of solder. It is 24.7mm long, 14.3mm wide and 1.9mm thick; it weighs 3.30 grams.

The applique would have been soldered to the side of a hanging bowl, like the Lullingstone Bowl in the British Museum. Helen Geake comments (pers comm): "The precise shape isn't paralleled at Lullingstone or in any other of the few appliques known, but they are all very variable both in shape and in details of decoration". The style of the decoration is perhaps more influence by Celtic and Romano-British fashions than Saxon interlace but this is not unusual in the style of hanging bowls (Helen Geake pers comm). Despite most example being known from the eastern part of the country this may be an accident of survival as there is a distinctly Celtic influence in their decoration and it has been suggested they were produced in Scotland