2024-03-29T00:50:05+00:00https://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/jsonhttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/xmlhttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/rsshttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/atomhttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/kmlhttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/geojsonhttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/qrcodehttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results5120finds-11261491126149NMGW-4977A4VESSELIRON AGEA fragment of copper alloy and enamel zoomorphic vessel mount of probable late Iron Age to early Roman date (c. 50 BC to 100 AD).
The object is zoomorphic, cast in the form of the stylised head of a beast with the lower jaw cut away in order to fit onto a vessel rim. The head is 21.3mm long, 12.1mm thick and 12.3mm wide, with an 8.4mm long snout with a flared, flat tip similar to a pig or boar. The lower 6.8mm of the jaw is cut out to a dept of c. 3.2mm. The rounded head has two 2.8mm diameter circular drilled eyes and is decorated on top of the cranium by two symmetrical comma shaped cells, the better-preserved cell retains traces of red enamel or glass paste. The head is attached at back to a downward-curving trapezoid sectioned neck that ends in a break c. 18,7mm from the back of the head. The neck is 7.5mm wide and deep where it meets the head, measuring 5.9mm across its top face and 7.5mm across the lower face, the neck tapers from the head, measuring 4mm wide and deep at the break. The original surfaces of the neck, where they survive, are smooth, flat, and undecorated, though the lower face preserves transverse file marks.
The object is quite heavily corroded, retaining little of its original surface, with frequent pitting and an unusual dark brown coating of corrosion product and soil covering parts of the object, including some areas of original surface. The object has a dark brown patina with patches of green corrosion product and has been coated by the finder with a waxy substance.
The mount is poorly preserved, and difficult but the presence of red enamel/glass paste is typical of late La Tene art, suggesting a late iron Age to Roman date. The best object parallels date to the same period and have kindly been provided by Dr Ellis-Haken: the biting rim handle fittings NMS-E51D37, SF223 and SF8686. These examples all depict horned bovines but share close similarities in form with this (hornless) example and would all have formed a handle for a wooden or metal vessel. The animal species depicted by this object is uncertain due to the poor condition, but per Dr Ellis-Haken (pers. comm) is likely to be porcine- either a wild boar or domestic pig. This object can quite confidently be dated to c. 50 BC to 100 AD, but it ought to be mentioned that Early Medieval hanging bowl mounts are also often zoomorphic and “bite” the rim of the bowl (e.g. the Witham bowl, corpus nos. 66 and 70 in Mitford (2008)), with some even decorated with red enamel (Mitford 2008 no. 93). However, these mounts are usually less robust and depicts birds- the flared, triangular sectioned snout seems more typical of La Tene traditions.
Length: 37.1mm Width: 12.3mm Thickness: 12.1mm Weight: 15.41g162131-5010014NMGWNMWPA 2023.79.52023-08-22T12:09:46Z2023-09-04T12:31:31Z15.41PAS64E4977A00149312.512.337.11741111214142425489194425489MonmouthshireMonmouthshireRestricted AccessGobion fawr communityRestricted Accessbands.shops.handy10NMGW-DCAF51Copper alloy10627EnamelCastInlaid with enamelFragmentIRON AGEx13992LateEarlyROMANx41218x13992Metal detectorReturned to finderOE0132945.jpg1238695images/gwhatley/WalesProbably22023-09-04T11:31:31.578Zfinds-10956381095638NMGW-FB5647VESSELIRON AGEAn incomplete cast copper alloy vessel mount, possibly a bucket escutcheon of (probably later) Iron Age to early Roman date (c. 150 BC-AD 100). The object is incomplete, missing part of the left attachment lobe and an uncertain length of the hooked rear projection.
The integrally cast object has a broadly trilobed form in plan, with two symmetrical comma-shaped perforated attachment lobes at the base (the left lobe is incomplete) and a larger upper lobe forming a suspension loop (maximum internal diameter 8.mm). The attachment lobes are thinner (c. 2.7mm thick) and set slightly at an angle, likely to fit closely against the curved side of a vessel. The attachment lobes are carefully moulded, with concave front surfaces accentuating the comma-shape to give an impression of spiralling towards the 2.5mm-2.9mm diameter rivet holes. The 13.7mm diameter intact lobe’s hole bears corroded remains of the rivet. Adam Gwilt (pers. comm.) suggested that the rivets would likely have had domed heads, or perhaps even have been embellished with red enamel. The front of the object has been incised to define the “tails” comma-shaped lobes meeting on the centre of the object. The suspension loop is a maximum of 4.5mm thick and 15.9mm wide, and measures 27mm from the top of the loop to the notch at the base of the object where the attachment lobes meet, with a maximum surviving height of 32mm. The suspension loop shows signs of use wear at the top of the loop, and has a notch cut into the lower left portion of the front of the loop, possibly indicating that object was in the process of being intentionally destroyed before its deposition.
The reverse of the object has a broken integrally cast projecting lug with a maximum depth of 11.4mm from the front surface. The lug is rounded rectangular in section and tapers slight and curves downwards towards its terminating break, likely to hook over the rim of a vessel. If so, the vessel rim this mount was attached to could have been no thicker than 2.9mm. the surface of the reverse below the hooked projection is not finished to the same smoothness as the other surfaces and has some patches of black patina.
The object has a dark grey-green patina with patches of surface loss and black patina.
The mount is yet to be directly paralleled, but similar trilobed vessel mount/escutcheons recorded on the PAS database include BH-894FA4, DOR-8D9853, SOM-21156D, and BERK-207045. While NMS-EA869E has a different form, it is still a clear parallel to this object with regards to its perforated attachment lobes and rear projecting bar/lug. This object would have been one of a pair (or perhaps multiple pairs) fixed on a vessel rim providing attachment for a bail handle.
Height: 32mm Width: 27mm Thickness: 11.4mm Weight: 9.52g162131-1501004NMGWNMWPA 2023.2.12023-01-24T10:39:32Z2024-03-27T14:00:41Z9.5232PAS63CFB5640017D011.4271712114142425489175025489MonmouthshireMonmouthshireCaerwentST459351.63310725-2.79605823bands.shops.handy10NMGW-FB61AECopper alloy10627CastIncompleteIRON AGEx13992LateEarlyROMANx41218x13992Metal detectorReturned to finderNMGW-FB5647_6604267ec02f9.jpg1269829images/gwhatley/WalesCertain12024-03-27T14:00:41.399Z4the Vale of Glamorgan1Unitary AuthorityROMAN1Metal detectorgoosecopy.jpg255022181Zoomorphic19065110879IAInlaid with enamelUnitary AuthorityCertain2NMGW25502200Llan-Maesx1399217.52the Vale of Glamorgan106272021-02-12T14:15:45ZReturned to finderWalesCirca
Iron Age copper alloy zoomorphic vessel mount or cup handle of 1st or 2nd century AD date
The mount depicts a bird, probably a goose and is incomplete, broken at one end (with a surviving length of 28.5mm, a surviving depth of 23.0mm and a weight of 17.5g). The terminal of the mount is in the form of a bird’s head, with a protruding pointed beak of subtriangular section (3.6mm long). The start of the beak was defined by grooves, now corroded. The head of the goose is globular (with a maximum diameter of 11.5mm) and the eyes are inset with bright blue glass spherical beads (of 1.2mm diameter). There appears to have been a groove, which arcs from the top of the beak, over the eye and to the back of the head. There is a moulded collar at the base of the head, which joined the arcing groove on the underside of the head. Any other decorative detail on the head have been lost to corrosion. The neck is arched and is of oval section (with a width of 7.2mm and a thickness of 6.0mm – 6.9mm), before having a perpendicular turn to a section of faceted lozenge section. The width of the section is consistent (at 10.5mm wide) but the inside and outside edges are concave (giving a thickness of 8.0mm – 10.6mm). Both ends of the section were enhanced with a grooved concave-sided triangular border and forming a lozenge either side of the central ridge. The mount has an old break across another near-perpendicular turn. The surface has remnants of a dark-brown patina and elsewhere has a pale-green corrosion.
The zoomorphic terminal with a bird, probably goose head is difficult to closely parallel. The curving handle form can be paralleled on round bottomed handled cups, such as the examples from Keshcarrigan, County Leitrim and Colchester, Essex (Jope 2000, p. 131-2, plates 194-5)[1]. The Keshcarrigan cup has a stylised shelduck handle. The form of the Llan-Maes handle may suggest that the goose was intended to peer over the rim of the cup. The faceted concave section may have been intended as a grip. Depictions of water birds, often mounts in the form of ducks are known of from The Iron Age but depictions of geese are more difficult to parallel.
[1] Jope, E. M., 2000; Early Celtic Art in the British Isles; Text
Adelle Bricking28.57-3.46799154NMGW-68C18C10220582handle1NMWPA 2015.201.3ROMANVESSELSS9869finds-10220581111.510NMGW-68BFB7Incomplete1x41218images/dellbricking/11132585PAS60268BFB00179542021-02-12T14:08:59ZCertainx13992121Regional importance51.4108168IRON AGECopper alloy41424IA1Circa16http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/IRON AGECertainGlassCommunity2022-07-14T07:16:04.819Z4Denbighshire100Unitary AuthorityROMAN1LateMetal detector20141031jpg.jpg25487From finderCorroded1Zoomorphic222541IAUnitary AuthorityCertain4NMGW25487Cwmx139921770747.42Denbighshire106272016-06-12T15:26:23ZReturned to finderWalesCirca
Late Iron Age or Roman copper alloy zoomorphic mount, probably from a vessel
The mount appears to be complete or near-complete (with an overall length of 58.7mm and a weight of 47.4g) and depicts a beast, probably a dog but possibly a pig cast in the round. The beast's snout is concave and would appear to be too elongated for a pig. The end of the snout appears to have two circular depressions depicting the nostrils. The mouth of the beast is biting on a piece of ferrous plate on one side, possibly the rim of a vessel. The plate does not extend to the opposite side. The eyes are simple sub-circular depressions, slightly raised at the centre. The D-shaped ears protrude above the sloping brow (giving the mount a maximum height of 18.2mm) and are angled to the rear. The interior of the ears is hollowed. There is the suggestion of finer, applied detail on the mount but is now masked or lost to corrosion. To the rear of the head, the mount is of D-shaped section and gradually narrows to the terminal (where it has a width of 11.8mm and a thickness of 10.4mm). The iron plate sandwiched within the mount, extends the entire length. The underside of the mount is concave and is not decorated but has two protruding iron circular-sectioned pins (4.8mm and 4.2mm diameter), possibly rivets to secure the mount or they may possibly have formed a loop to attach a handle or similar. It is possible that the concavity of the base of the mount mirrors the rim curvature of a large, cauldron-like vessel (approximated at 560mm diameter). The surface has a pale-green patina with areas of bright green corrosion and surface loss, much of the copper alloy surface underlies the iron corrosion.
Analysis to ascertain the composition of the metal was attempted using X-ray fluorescence, the results are not semi-quantitative but indicate that the alloy is a tin bronze containing some lead, consistent with some pre-Roman bronzes.
The mount is difficult to closely parallel but the zoomorphic style and form are consistent with Late Iron Age and Early Roman mounts and figurines. The sheet iron enclosed within the mount may suggest the mount decorated the rim of a large iron vessel.
Sally Worrell58.773-3.39633361NMGW-35B565705266zoomorphic mount, probably from a vessel1NMWPA 2014.103.1ROMANVESSELSJ0777finds-705266116NMGW-35AEB8Completex41218images/wenkedomscheit/1505633PAS54E35AEB0017F932015-02-17T15:14:51ZCertainx13992121Regional importance53.281787214IRON AGECopper alloy41424IA1Circa16http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/IRON AGECertainCommunity2022-07-14T07:12:16.677ZEarlyWrexham1Unitary AuthorityROMAN1LateMetal detectorDSCN1455.JPG258312003GPS (from the finder)1220501IA
The design of the rear of the mount would suggest a vessel with an inward turning upper body and a deep rim, possibly rolled.
15.5Unitary AuthorityCertain2NMGW2583118100Rossettx139922634868546.3Wrexham106272019-04-02T13:29:34ZReturned to finder1WalesCirca
Near complete copper alloy escutcheon from a hanging bowl or bucket, probably of Late Iron Age date, C. 50 BC to 100 AD. The escutcheon body is of globular form with an integral large incomplete loop, presumably to secure a handle. The body of the mount appears slightly domed, and is decorated with a motif consisting of two high raised moulded opposed semicircular arcs, with a slight break in-between the two. Beneath the raised motif is a circular attachment hole, placed off centre and surrounded with iron corrosion. It is possible to suggest this means of attachment is a secondary repair because of the relative carelessness of the work. The rear of the mount at the base is angled (c. 30 degrees from the vertical), suggesting the escutcheon would have been out-splayed at the vessel rim, or more likely, would have incorporated the in-turning upper body of the vessel, ensuring the escutcheon would have been vertical. Above the base, the rear has a wide groove to accommodate the vessel rim. The lower arm of the groove is wide and curved, while the upper arm is short and straight. The rear of the loop is flat, and there are the remnants of a slight step at the base of the loop. The rear of the mount was originally probably soldered onto the vessel.
Helen Geake53.273-3.002663NMGW-731364521451NMGWPA 2003.152.1ROMANVESSELSJ3359finds-521451130.210NMGW-72FDF0Incomplete-50x41218images/mlodwick/187150013F6730F50146632003-09-16T16:49:09ZCertainx139922003-06-30T23:00:00Z2153.123942IRON AGECopper alloy41424IA1Circa16http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/IRON AGECertainCommunity2022-07-14T07:06:38.128Z