Rights Holder: Suffolk County Council
CC License:
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Unique ID: SF-8DE853
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
An incomplete copper alloy early medieval (Anglo-Scandinavian) cheek piece. It consists of a central bar with part of a loop with a connected zoomorphic plate projecting from the lower end and a smaller loop from the upper end. The central bar is oval in cross-section. The upper loop projects outwards at a right-angle, its outer face expanding into an elongated fleur-de-lis shaped plate. Only half of the lower loop survives and its lower end is pointed - probably evidence of considerable wear. To one side it expands into a zoomorphic plate projecting outwards and shaped like a creature's long, curved neck and head. The outer face of the plate is decorated with a longitudinal line running along the centre of the outer face of the creature's neck with some transverse lines running off it to either side, and with outlines for the creature's eye, mouth and ear. These all contain traces of niello inlay. The surface of the metal is a corroded reddish-green, but it survives in fair condition. The breaks are all well worn.
This is part of a horse harness cheek piece, which linked the end of the bit to the cheek strap of the bridle (see Williams 2007, fig.2). This example is probably related to William's Type 1 (ibid.) although the creature's head is less stylised than most seen on these. They date to the later 11th century AD.
For other similar examples recorded with the PAS see: LIN-F9F9E6, KENT-E4D426, SUR-E1C4D7
Length: 61.92mm, width: 49.06mm, thickness: 10.86mm, weight: 33.71g
This is a find of note and has been designated: National importance
Class:
cheekpiece
Sub class: Williams Type 1 (probably)
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1020
Date to: Circa AD 1100
Quantity: 1
Length: 61.92 mm
Width: 49.06 mm
Thickness: 10.86 mm
Weight: 33.71 g
Date(s) of discovery: Friday 20th July 2018
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Other reference: Finder's ref: ZZAR
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.