CIRCA LATE 8TH-9TH CENTURY A.D.

Details

A SILVER-GILT COPPER ALLOY ZOOMORPHIC MOUNT
CIRCA LATE 8TH-9TH CENTURY A.D.
In the form of an animal head with mouth agape from which emerges an upward curving tongue terminating in a bird with head turned back, its beak nestling between its wings, another smaller downward protruding tongue terminates in a small stylized head, under the right cheek of the animal head extends another zoomorphic head, all with inlaid eyes probably of glass
1 3/8 in. (3.6 cm.) long

Provenance

Reputedly found near to The Ridgeway, Newbury area, Berkshire.
English private collection, acquired in 1992.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

A British Museum 1992 analysis of the silver copper alloy gave an approximate composition of 40 silver, 42 copper, 10 tin, 2-3 zinc, 2-4 lead, together with traces of iron and gold.

Cf. L. Webster and J. Backhouse, The Making of England: Anglo-Saxon Art and Culture, AD 600-900, The British Museum, London, pp. 223-225, no. 178 for two similarly ornamented Pictish or Anglo-Saxon(?) silver-gilt scabbard chapes from the St Ninian's Isle hoard, Shetland, Scotland; and no. 179, for an Anglo-Saxon silver-gilt runic mount terminating in an animal's head, found in the River Thames. The mount in the above lot also finds parallels in some of the stylized motifs of Irish animal style, cf. M. Ryan (ed.), Treasures of Ireland: Irish Art 3000 B.C.-1500 A.D., Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, 1983, pp. 129-130, no. 51d, for a 9th Century A.D. silver-gilt pseudo-penannular brooch.

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