VESSEL

A copper alloy three-dimensional vessel mount in the shape of a bird, possibly a raven or crow, dating to the Roman period. (c. AD 43 - 410). The bird is depicted standing with wings folded across the back. The head is well depicted and features a circumferential groove to indicate where the beak stops and plumage begins; the beak is wide and solid and it is this element that is reminiscent of a raven or crow's beak. The eyes are simple indentations either side of the head. The underside of the bird's body has been decorated with multiple pits to create a stippled effect to denote feathers; the folded wings are delineated with simples incised lines as is the tail, which has a pinched terminal. A round-sectioned curved rod, quite crudely formed, extends from the underside of the bird where the feet would have been; this rod is likely to have secured the figurine to the side of a vessel.

Several other examples of bird vessel mounts have been recorded on this database, and a small number also appear to depict ravens or crows (see for example WILT-21E7D7) which are associated with the Roman god Apollo and the Celtic god of war Lugh, as well as the Irish goddess Mor Regan. Many of the vessel mounts recorded on this database and in the literature have straight sectioned shanks; this example with its curved shank is similar to only one example recorded on the database (SWYOR-25FC72).