Anglo-Saxon Iron Ship Rivet

A portion of a gold buckle or fitting with garnet cloisonné 'face' to the obverse, bands of granulation above and below; comprising a triangular panel with two garnet disc 'eyes' above a greenish (perhaps serpentine) filling to the upper cell, and a row of four garnets below; the effect represents either a face, or the other way up, two serpents settled with their addorsed heads resting on the baseline; two mounting loops to the reverse. 2.84 grams, 23 mm

Fine condition.

Acquired 1970-2010. Collection of a late Japanese gentleman.

The design replicates in cloisonné technique the dense artwork found for example on saucer brooches and sword pommels where serpents and quadrupeds are crowded into small spaces in the design. See for example Hammond (2009), item 1.1.6.6-h, a pair of saucer brooches with panels of animals and birds.

A rectangular copper-alloy mount with a slightly curved profile, the upper face with a yellow-enamelled interlaced knot against a red-brown enamelled field; Hiberno-Saxon workmanship. 6.65 grams, 29 mm

Fine condition, complete.

Found UK. Acquired in the 1990s. From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK.

It is likely that this is a mount from a house-shrine or similar piece of ecclesiastical equipment with studs to the underside and a hole at each end to accept a rivet.

A bronze cruciform brooch comprising a rectangular headplate with trapezoidal flanking panels and three radiating squares with pairs of addorsed bird-heads; deep bow with domed centre; footplate flanked by annular lappets; horse-head foot with raised points for the eyes and discoid nostrils; pin-lug and catch to the reverse; repaired, a marriage. 57 grams, 13 cm



Found UK. Private York collection, 1992. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher.