Anglo-Saxon Gilt Bronze Pin Terminal

The majority of a mount bearing dense and enigmatic imagery recalling half-remembered legends which were already ancient when it was made; the obverse packed with a tangled mass of bands of detailed ornament which resolves itself into human (or divine?) figures, each gripping the ankles of the other, their bodies inverted and contorted in the classic Style I chip-carved fashion; the centre with a round cell, into which a flat-cut glass cloison is set, polished to reflect the light and to shimmer with blood-red brilliance. 9.08 grams, 32 mm

Fine condition. Unique.

Found Wiltshire, UK. Wiltshire gentleman, 2011. TimeLine Originals, 2000s. Property of an East Anglia gentleman. Accompanied by a report by Anglo-Saxon and Viking specialist S. Pollington. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.10381-168115.

Anglo-Saxon and Viking specialist Stephen Pollington writes: '...the scene presented may illustrate a legend or myth of which no record survives. That said, the execution of the piece is consistent with high-status Anglo-Saxon metalwork of the 6th century, and the quality of the gilding is remarkably high. The iconography is at present unique but entirely within the Anglo-Saxon tradition.'

An excessively rare and almost complete copper-alloy hanging bowl and associated fittings, comprising: (i) the bowl with three attached matching hooked escutcheons and suspension rings; (ii) the basal disc with separate frame; (iii) a body fragment (or repair patch); (iv) a curved bronze fragment; (iv) a curved copper-alloy strip (v) four skeletal fragments from a sheep or similar; accompanied by a high quality custom-made display stand. 303 grams, 19 cm (720 grams total, 23 cm including stand)



Found whilst searching with a metal detector in Ryedale, North Yorkshire, UK, on Sunday 5th February 2023 by Chris Ulliott. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme report no.YORYM-59523A. Accompanied by a handwritten signed letter from the finder explaining the circumstances of finding. Accompanied by a copy of a signed Art Loss Register declaration no.S00236559, dated 18th September 2023, and an Interpol search certificate dated 3 October 2023. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12441-225438.

Hanging-bowls are high-status vessels with origins in the Roman period which continued in use only in Britain and Ireland. They appear in burial contexts which date them to the sixth to late seventh century. The form of this example is paralleled by the bowl from Hadleigh Road, Ipswich, Suffolk (British Museum accession number 1984,0103.9) which has a similar shape and kite-shaped escutcheons secured by three rivets (Bruce-Mitford, 2005, Corpus No. 86).

Including: wrist clasp elements, hooked tag and other items. 22.7 grams total, 9-52 mm



Acquired on the European art market since the early 2000s. From the private Northern Ireland collection of R.M.