resurrected fragment with a possible ID

Kenleyboy · Mon Oct 12, 2020 9:39 pm

I popped this piece on here in the fresh days of the forum for an ID but had no luck . I even popped it on another well known forum which also drew a blank . However today I did get a possible ID on it from a friend and fellow detectorist . This may or may not be correct and could possibly be up for debate .
My good old mate stuck his neck out and believes it could be part of a Saxon cruciform brooch . I myself have no idea although I did look up images and there is some hint of resemblance but still not convinced .

Easylife · Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:01 pm

I remember that, it's clearly a very old partifact. Still don't know what of though. I guess it's kind of frustrating not knowing?

shaggybfc · Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:19 pm

This could do with one of those 3D images to really appreciate the shape. Don't suppose you could do one?

Kenleyboy · Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:20 pm

shaggybfc wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:19 pm This could do with one of those 3D images to really appreciate the shape. Don't suppose you could do one?

Thats a bit like asking me to predict the lottery numbers

Kenleyboy · Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:21 pm

Easylife wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:01 pm I remember that, it's clearly a very old partifact. Still don't know what of though. I guess it's kind of frustrating not knowing?

its driving me insane

Easylife · Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:27 pm

Kenleyboy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:21 pm It's driving me insane

I'm glad I didn't find it!

Tue Oct 13, 2020 5:19 am

Kenleyboy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 9:39 pm My good old mate stuck his neck out and believes it could be part of a Saxon cruciform brooch .

It's not impossible - Saxon brooches, particularly the later cruciforms and square-headed, could be very ornate with all sorts going on, but these decorative 'wings' tended to be more delicate than your item appears to be. It could be the part of the foot and terminal but the design is unusual and the terminal looks a little thin. Any evidence of a catchplate on the back?

A real teaser

Tue Oct 13, 2020 9:19 am

KK could you post a few more pics, especially of the underside? Still interested in solving this one!

Kenleyboy · Tue Oct 13, 2020 1:08 pm

Here you go Oxgirl .

This is the underside , a hollow chamber and there appears to be evidence of a lug or nodule . I can see no evidence of any breakage on the short edges which throws doubt on this being part of a cruciform brooch .I am guessing it may have something to do with a belt or strap fitting .
Where the nodule protrudes I am thinking maybe this is part of a bar that met with the other short edge or possibly a pin .
It is possible it could be Saxon as there are a number of Saxon items that have come off this permission .

Easylife · Tue Oct 13, 2020 9:16 pm

It looks like it could have once had that back plate all round so I'll guess a decorative mount. All edges will be smoothed from being in the ground for so long. Maybe it was once gilded?

Just chuck it in the scrap to save the pain!

Kenleyboy · Tue Oct 13, 2020 10:00 pm

Easylife wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2020 9:16 pm It looks like it could have once had that back plate all round so I'll guess a decorative mount. All edges will be smoothed from being in the ground for so long. Maybe it was once gilded?
Just chuck it in the scrap to save the pain!

I can't , im on a mission

Tue Oct 13, 2020 10:16 pm

I still believe it’s saddle related . I think it had a flat plate at the front and back and i see it as the front bit of a saddle. Don.t know why but that’s my gut feeling!

shaggybfc · Tue Oct 13, 2020 10:51 pm

I'm going to say it's a foot off something - purely based on the wear marks - linear, like it's been dragged on the floor. Not a foot off something that's meant to sit on furniture, it would scratch it, so something on a stone floor....
That's my best guess.