'The Pershore' Anglo-Saxon Hanging Bowl Mount with Horse-Head

A bronze bowl mount or escutcheon comprising a discoid panel with gently curved profile and zoomorphic hook; the panel with reserved La Tène comma-leaf decoration on a pounced field (intended to receive enamel fill); the hook with median gusset to the outer face, horse-head finial, bulbous La Tène ornament at the base. 23.7 grams, 48 mm



Found whilst searching with a metal detector in Pershore, Worcestershire, West Midlands, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme Report no.WAW-BC2657.

A superb chip-carved saucer or button brooch with extensive remains of gilding, displaying a stylised male face with puffy cheeks, large ears, long moustache, raised pellet eyes of different sizes, hair dressed in vertical ribs alternating plain and textured, some chevron and pellet patterning to the face; stub remains of catch fitting to reverse. 5.2 grams, 23 mm

Fine condition, slight scuffing to rim and one cheek.

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

The brooch does not fall neatly into Avent & Evison's typology, being somewhat larger than the standard forms of button brooch and with an unusually detailed face. Broadly, it resembles Class J with alternating plain and textured vertical strands in the hair but does not have the horizontal band across the brow nor the stylised beard associated with the type. The eccentric placement of the eyes suggests that the image may be the face of the god Woden (Odin) who famously sacrificed one eye in exchange for wisdom.

A gilt copper-alloy circular mount decorated with a chip-carved whorl composed of four stylised bird's wings radiating from a central knop; four mounting lugs to the reverse. 6.28 grams, 26 mm



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