Basic info

Collection

Archaeology

Title

Ormside Bowl

Object name

Bowl

Object category

Anglian

Description

Silver gilt with repousse ornament on outside. Inner shell studded with blue glass and silver wire interlace. Inner bowl: The inner cup is made from gilt-bronze and is rivetted with studs of blue glass and silver. The base plate of the internal bowl features 16 circular pieces of glass within a ring of cloisons and five further rivets, of which the central is missing. The gilding on the bowl was added after the other decoration. Outer bowl: The outer shell is made from silver-gilt, the rim once had a U-sectioned strip of ungilded silver although this has now mostly been lost. This strip was originally attached using 4 clips in the shape of animal heads although 2 of these have also been lost. The bowl's gilt-silver exterior is decorated with Anglo-Saxon style interlaced fabulous creatures amid Continental style vines. These decorations show plants, grapes, fruit, animals and birds in both naturalistic and grotesque style. Another beaded band is rivetted on in four places outside the rim. These rivets have square mountings, in one of which a piece of blue glass survives. The external base plate features five domed rivets. The interlaced cruciform decoration between these rivets has been made using a repoussé technique. The bowl may also once have had a foot-ring made from gilded wire.

Production date start

750

Production date end

800

Period

Anglian