An irregular hexagonal-section bronze knife pommel or bolster, pierced vertically to accept the tang; incised ornament and legend comprising (beginning at the narrowest face): segmented panel; 'EA :'; 'DPIN', 'EME', 'EEIT', two square panels with pointed saltires.

PROVENANCE:
Property of a Kent, UK gentleman; found near Brenzett, Kent, UK, 2019; recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme under reference number PAS KENT-D7B5E0; accompanied by a copy of the PAS report.

PUBLISHED:
Recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme under reference KENT-D7B5E0.

LITERATURE:
See doctoral thesis: Johnson, Catherine Estelle, A Comparative Study of Portable Inscribed Objects from Britain and Ireland, AD 400-1100, University of Glasgow, 2019.

FOOTNOTES:
The text is apparently intended to read 'EadǷine me fecit' (Edwin made me), a 'maker's formula' known since Roman times. The form of the letter 'A' is typical of the 11th century (pre- or post-Conquest). Eadwine is a well-known personal name which remained in use after the Norman invasion. The spacing of the text is uneven and the execution of 'EE' is for 'FE'.