Rights Holder: Lincolnshire County Council
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Unique ID: LIN-EE5C6A
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
Description
A Roman copper-alloy escutcheon or handle-fitting from a bronze basket. The fitting is symmetrical, and is comprised of a pedestal-like moulding in the middle, with an opposing dog or hound-head on either side. The pedestal moulding has a solid oval knop at the top. This knop is decorated with an incised cross at the top, aligned so that it points along the mount towards the dog-heads at either end. The knop sits on a pedestal formed by two outward flared lips. These curve inwards below, and then downwards and outwards to join the dog-heads. A narrow moulded channel runs around the perimeter on both sides.
An outward curving sub-oval panel extends below on what would have been the exterior face of the fitting. This panel is decorated with a leaf-motif extending upwards towards the knop. The leaf is pointed-oval and has a slender central stem marked on either side by a deep channel; this stem extends slightly below the base. The perimeter of the leaf on either side is decorated with a series of upward curving shallow channels, each of which terminates with a clearly defined wedge-shaped notch. At the base, the leaf extends to either side following the curves of the panel.
On either side of the panel is a short arm connected to the dog-head. This arm is semi-circular in section. Both dog-heads can be described in the same manner. At the top, just beyond the ears, is a semi-circular lug. The perimeter of the lug has a v-shaped channel, and each rim is decorated with a series of incised lines. The interior of the lug is conical and would have secured the handle in place. The interior is worn, being consistent with use.
The dog has a slender face resembling a hound. The dog's ears are slender and shown swept back along its head, as if it is running. The top of the head between the ears is formed by a triangular panel, and this contains incised wavey lines representing the hair. Further wavey lines represent the hairline below the ears on either side of the head. A slender channel runs from the top of the head down towards the forehead. The eyes are represented by a deep, elongated triangular hole. Narrow crescent-shaped channels or grooves add further definition around the eyes and forehead. The mouth is slender and the snout is upturned. A horizontal groove runs around the base, indicating that the dog has its mouth closed. The snout of one of the dogs is missing; the break at this point is corroded and pitted.
The dog heads are decorated on both sides, but the central panel is undecorated on the side that would have inwards into the basket. The underside of the mount is recessed so that it could be attached to the rim of the basket. Patches of a white-coloured substance survive, probably representing the remains of a solder.
The mount has a deep green patina and is in a good condition overall.
Dimensions
The length of the fitting is 120.13mm. Its depth is 52mm. The width across the dog head is 13.7mm, and the depth from the top of the lug to the base of the head is 19.4mm. The depth from the top of the head to the base is 13.3mm. The dog-head is 34mm in length. The oval panel measures 25mm in width at the base. The fitting weighs 147.91g.
Discussion
Find spots of this distinctive form of vessel concentrated in the Bay of Naples, though this might be a bias owing to preservation rather than there necessarily being a workshop in the region. Two complete examples exist in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession numbers 1989.281.86, and 1972.118.89; Milleker 1992, 1993). Another was found at Pompeii, and is now in the Naples Archaeological Museum (accession number 109698). While the overall shape remains consistant across the group, the form of animal displayed on their terminals varies. Bird-heads, especially ducks, are commonly seen (e.g. 1972.118.89), as are dogs, and dolphins. More rarely they take the form of satyrs, and goats.
This find might be comparable to a handle fitting in the shape of a duck or swan's head, found in the Winchester hoard (Spence, La Niece & Worrell 2004). The handle was dated to the first half of the first century AD. The animal has a large concave 'fan' at the back of its head, very similar in design and decoration to the present example.
References
Milleker, Elizabeth J. 1992. "Ancient Art: Gifts from The Norbert Schimmel Collection." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, 49(4): p. 62.
Milleker, Elizabeth J. 1993. "Recent Acquisitions, A Selection: 1992-1993." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, 51(2): p. 62.
Spence, A.J., La Niece, S. and Worrell, S. 2004. 'The Winchester Hoard: a find of unique Iron Age gold jewellery from Southern England', Britannia 84: 1-22.
This is a find of note and has been designated: Potential for inclusion in Britannia
Class: Oval basket
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: ROMAN
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: ROMAN
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 43
Date to: Circa AD 70
Quantity: 1
Length: 120 mm
Width: 52 mm
Thickness: 13.7 mm
Weight: 147.91 g
This information is restricted for your access level.
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
4 Figure: SK9876
Four figure Latitude: 53.27194228
Four figure longitude: -0.5319266
1:25K map: SK9876
1:10K map: SK97NE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.