Anglo-Saxon 'Thames' Bronze Hook Fastener Collection

Modelled in the round standing naked with both feet on a drum-shaped base; the head bulbous with small lentoid eyes placed high on the face, wedge-shaped nose and slit mouth; the arms poorly defined but apparently extending to the hips (and perhaps bent flat across the body); the legs separated by a rotary device with small feet, the genital area blank with a shallow socket in the shape of a phallus and testes. 43.6 grams, 75 mm



Found whilst searching with a metal detector approximately 100 yards from the ruins of Hoxne Priory, Suffolk, UK, on 27th August 2023 by Richard Hudson. Accompanied by a report by Anglo-Saxon and Viking specialist Stephen Pollington. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.SF-F804CE. Accompanied by a copy of the Suffolk County Council archaeological finds recording service receipt dated 27th August 2023. Accompanied by a handwritten signed letter from the finder explaining the circumstances of finding including copies of photographs taken shortly after finding. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12134-217182.

The piece is unusual in that the arms are poorly defined and the lower arms and hands not easily discernible, the columnar base is not normally present, and the legs were apparently connected by metal which needed to be drilled out, possibly due to a poorly-prepared mould allowing leakage across from one leg to the other. Metal analysis by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and the trace elements found therein, seems to support an early Anglo-Saxon date: Cu 59.8, Sn 20.7, Pb 8.1, Fe 7.0, Zn 2.1, As 1.2, Bi 0.8, Ti 0.2. The find spot is near Hoxne, Suffolk, which has a long and interesting history. In 1992, a huge hoard of Roman silverware was discovered in the vicinity, with the largest collection of gold and silver coins of the 4th-5th century found anywhere within the Roman Empire. This suggests that the area was always important economically and socially. The local Priory dates from the mid-tenth century (i.e. mid-Saxon period) but the site was already associated with the kings of East Anglia, who held land here; it is usually said to be the spot where King Edmund defied the Danish leader Hinguar (Ivarr) and met his death. It is probable that the priory's location was chosen because it was already a site of religious worship: Pope Gregory's instruction to the missionaries attempting to convert the Anglo-Saxons was to preserve their festivals and sites of religious worship, but to alter the religious content (Chaney, 1967). It is thus likely that the location of the Priory was already a (pre-Christian) holy place with a temple.

Comprising: small-long brooch with knop finials; fragment of hair-pin terminal with scroll ornament. 8.69 grams total, 30-63 mm



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Triangular plate with three domed rivets, hinged loop and tongue; hatched ornament. 9.4 grams, 49 mm



Found whilst searching with a metal detector in East Anglia, UK.