Rights Holder: National Museums Liverpool
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
FURNITURE FITTING
Unique ID: LVPL-273BD0
Object type certainty: Probably
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A cast copper-alloy furniture fitting of probable Roman date. It is a circular ring which is circular in section with a zoomorphic figure of a sitting bird, most likely a duck, on the outside. The figure is integrally cast with the ring which is undecorated. The bird is sitting, no legs or feet are present, at right angles to the hoop and the body extends over the hoop. The neck curves upwards and ends in an oval head with a beak projecting from it. The beak is marked with a horizontal line and there is a dot on either side of the head representing eyes.
The back of the bird's body has five v-shaped lines pointing towards the tail representing feathers. These extend half way down the body but do not continue on the underside.
The hoop of the ring seems too large to be a finger ring and others of these objects have variously been described as furniture fittings or mounts. See for example NLM-8A6096, LIN-F1A832 and LIN-BE7512.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 100
Date to: Circa AD 300
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 1st October 2013
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Hertfordshire (County)
District: East Hertfordshire (District)
To be known as: Cottered
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: LIN-F96BFF
Object type: MOUNT
Broadperiod: ROMAN
A Roman copper alloy mount, possibly from a vessel, in the form of a sitting bird. The bird is three dimensional and has a plump pointed oval…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: LIN-3AEB83
Object type: MOUNT
Broadperiod: ROMAN
An incomplete copper-alloy mount in the form of a sitting bird. The bird is three-dimesional and has a solid oval head with a long beak. The …
Workflow: Published
Find number: LIN-9FF138
Object type: BUCKET
Broadperiod: ROMAN
Copper alloy bucket mount in the form of a bird. The bird has a ridged lozenge shaped body, with a flared tail and a narrow thin head with a …
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618