An enigmatic object made of gilded silver from the Anglo-Saxon era has left experts puzzled. The artefact was discovered near Langham, Norfolk by a metal detectorist. Its flat, circular top is surrounded by short, straight sides that create a shallow, hollow cylinder. According to historian Helen Geake, the object may have been created by someone who was highly talented and skilled. Its spiral pattern on the sides that is recognizable from the Lindisfarne Gospel or The Book of Kells. The creation also has a “backward-looking animal” on it, which can possibly be a horse.
The tiny, slightly crumpled 19.4mm (0.7in) diameter object was deemed treasure by a coroner, and the Norwich Castle Museum is thinking of acquiring it. Although several similar mystery objects were discovered in the past, none were like this Anglo-Saxon treasure. It is also difficult to determine what the item was used for; one possibility is that it was intended for the end of a staff, since other components may have long since been lost.
Dr Geake stated that the gold and silversmiths “were really multi-talented and doing lots of different things,” adding that there is evidence that craftspeople of this era were also participating in illuminations for manuscripts. Even though experts are puzzled over its purpose, it has become clear that the piece was created by a craftsman with an ‘eye for loveliness.’
The Anglo-Saxon era was from the late 8th or early 9th Century, and this particular piece was meticulously crafted with mercury and powdered gold to highlight the animal in the design. Despite being tiny, it was made with the same care as larger, more well-known works that have survived
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