MOUNT

Early Medieval copper alloy mount, 45mm long, 42mm wide and 8mm thick with a weight of 20.87grams. The object is triangular in form and slightly domed. It consists of three isosceles triangular projections joined by their short edge to a central 'sub' triangular section. Where they join the central triangle, there is a semi-circular depression at each edge. The upper surface is decorated with a series of cells. Starting at the centre, there is a triangular cell sitting below a three petalled flower motif, formed of three cells. Each corner of the central triangular cell touches the edge of a further group of cells, each arranged as six petalled flower motifs, sitting in the centre of each projection. The 'flowers' consist of three large and three small, alternately arranged cells around a central pellet (now worn). The raised areas are gilded in places and most of the larger petals of two of the flowers have been filled with a dark material, probably niello, now only present in fragmentary form. Some of these cells appear to also have a circular depression at the wider end, possibly for silver wire or similar? The underside of the object is plain with a rounded depression in its centre containing a rounded projection. Each of the triangles has a slightly hollow surface. Two of them also contain circular fixing holes , near the outer edge. The third, the one whose petals have no filling, has no hole but a semi-circular cut out in one edge, suggesting a misplaced hole that is now damaged.

I am extremely grateful to Dr Barry Ager, who confirmed the date of this object and provided the following information.

The shape is a little unusual for the type, although I am sure it is Carolingian period. There is one with triangular heads to the arms, but not such deeply rebated sides, and found in the UK, without further precision, which is now in a private American collection.

The trefoil mounts are of continental origin and broadly dateable to the 9^th century. It is a moot point whether they were brought into this country in connection with Viking activity, or were imported directly from France and/or the Low Countries.