Treasure Annual Report 1998-1999 - Portable Antiquities Scheme

Treasure Annual Report 1998 - 1999 43
Early Medieval Artefacts
Finders: Messrs M F White, T Garaghan, M Brookes with an animal mask at the apex in low relief
and J Fieldson with protruding eyes and comma-shaped ears; the
Date of discovery: 6 September 1998 flat central panel has a pattern of four stylized
Circumstances of discovery: Metal detecting rally and contorted animals with pricked ear and
Description: nicked and spotted bodies, two small in the upper
1. A silver strap-end (three animals), roughly oval corners of the panel and two larger ones one
with moulded details top and bottom; length: above the other at the bottom. These are framed
72.7mm; width: 24.6 mm, weight: 33.08g. A heavy and entwined by loops of double-strand
casting with an animal mask at the apex in low interlacing ribbon and the whole design is
relief with protruding eyes and comma-shaped contrasted against a background of black niello.
ears; the flat central panel has a pattern of three The top of the piece is split to accommodate a
stylized and contorted animals with pricked ear strap and has two rivets in position. These flank a
and nicked and spotted bodies running up the pendant a semicircular panel with a looped
centre. These are framed by loops of double-strand vegetal motif in low relief. The back is plain.
interlacing ribbon and the whole design is 4. Lower portion, approximately three-quarters of a
contrasted against a background of black niello. similar strap-end; maximum length: 55.5 mm;
The top of the piece is split to accommodate a width: 23.7 mm; weight: 22.55g. The broad end
strap and two rivets with low domed heads are still for attachment is missing. Four complete and one
in situ. The rivets lie above a semicircular panel incomplete small animals almost fill the main
with a pendant looped vegetal motif in low relief. field. A remaining corner is filled by a plant
The back is plain with some polishing marks. tendril. The treatment of the animals is similar to
2. Silver strap-end broken across the middle, that on the complete strap-end but there is no
roughly oval with moulded details top and ribbon infilling. Judging from the condition of the
bottom; length: 71.0 mm, width: 24.3 mm; weight: broken edge, it is likely that this strap-end was
33.07g. A heavy casting with an animal mask at complete when deposited in the ground.
the apex in low relief with protruding eyes and 5. Silver and niello strap-end with two domed rivets
comma-shaped ears; the flat central panel has a in position; length: 56.7 mm, width: 20.1 mm,
pattern of four stylized and contorted animals weight: 20.49g. The terminal is a blunt-nosed
with pricked ear and nicked and spotted bodies, animal mask in low relief with comma-shaped ears
two small in the upper corners of the panel and and the eyes protuberant dots at the edge of the
two larger ones engaged in combat at the bottom. mask. Most of the recessed areas here and on the
These are framed and entwined by loops of billeted borders of the long sides contain dirt. The
double-strand interlacing ribbon and the whole main field has superficial scratches and some of
design is contrasted against a background of the pattern is indistinct; it consists of two animals
black niello. The top of the piece is split to in profile, one above the other in similar pose with
accommodate a strap and has holes for two rivets. the hind legs curled under the torso, forelegs
The rivet holes flank a pendant semicircular panel raised and the neck and large head turned back to
with a looped vegetal motif in low relief. The face the tail. The bodies are speckled and the
back is plain. background filled with niello. A semicircular field
3. Silver strap-end (four animals) roughly oval with without inlay lies below the rivets and is filled
moulded details top and bottom; length: 71.6 mm; with a looped pendant motif with a central leaf.
width: 24.3 mm; weight: 32.55g. A heavy casting The upper millimetre of the strap-end is split for