Saxon Bronze Clothes Fastener

Rectangular in plan with hinge knuckle to one short end; ropework outer edges and raised saltires, on a field of chip-carved triskeles and other motifs; low socket to reverse. 6.62 grams, 34 mm



Found North Yorkshire, UK.

The style of decoration is typical of Hiberno-Saxon metalwork associated with the influence of Irish missionaries in England.

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).

A zoomorphic mount which can be interpreted to include several animals, including a bird, a boar, a caterpillar, and a rat; ellipsoid in section with hollow rear and slot, holes for attachment curved end; the rear of the body formed with transverse twisted ribs above two panels of fine parallel lines parted at the median with D-shaped lugs projecting above; below, beneath the lateral slot, horizontal ribs and balusters with scooped edge and two holes for attachment; forward end forming a curved beak with lateral recesses. socket eyes above, one with glass fill; rear damaged; mounted on a custom-made stand. 26.12 grams, 38 mm (43.6 grams total, 71 mm including stand)



with ArtAncient Ltd. Private collection, London. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12438-226862.

The item is enigmatic and intriguing. In many respects it resembles a drinking horn finial, particularly the class of such items found in Irish and Hiberno-Saxon contexts (Youngs, items 53, 54). However, the profile of the hollow rear is elliptical rather than than circular, and the lateral slots are clearly intended to accept some form of projection. The most likely interpretation is that the piece was custom-made to fit a drinking horn with carved ornament, part of which would fit into the slots. The form of the piece is superficially that of an eagle- or raven-head with sturdy raptor's beak. However, behind the head are placed two small projecting ears and the sides bear a long mane, both reminiscent of a horse. It seems likely that the animal is a hybrid of a mammal and bird of prey: in this case, it must be a gryphon inspired by classical forms.