Ancient Coins and Antiquities

Viking, Anglo-Scandinavian 11th century gilt bronze cheek piece or saddle pommel, measuring, 10.7 cm x 7.4 cm x 8 mm, 175.12g, rectangular base with three protruding arms, one on each side and one vertical. Each of the side arms form the neck and head of a dragon, a mane of curved incised lines runs along the top of the neck, while the head is moulded in the round with large trefoil shaped ears with an interlace design. The eyes are large and round, while the chin has a wattle and an upturned snout. The central arm is decorated with a crude interlace pattern of looping bodies with indistinct heads at the sides. Below is a humanoid face mask with large eyes, eyebrows and moustache. A large central opening in the base has the remains of iron rust, above are two small rivet holes with two more central holes in the upper arm. About very fine with considerable gilding present; an extremely rare and interesting item £800-£1,000

Found in Leicestershire by metal detecting in the Hinckley and Bosworth region in 2004. Displayed in “Vikings in the East Midlands” in 2018. Published in Medieval Archaeology vol 49, 2005, 335; fig 4. Dr Rena Maguire posted in Archaeology, East Midlands September 2018 that it may be a saddle pommel. a copy of the booklet for the exhibition of Vikings in Leicestershire is included with this lot. Hinckley dates back to Anglo-Saxon times and was recorded as a large village in the Domesday book.

The decoration and form of the central arm is comparable to the late Saxon stirrup mounts class A, type 1 and type 9 classified by David Williams. The iron socket that was held in the base has caused significant wear to the left side indicating substantial movement over time. There is no parallel, which makes its exact function difficult to ascertain.