An Irish copper-alloy gilded mount fround in Burton on the Wolds, Leicestershire. (c) Leicestershire County Council, CC BY-SA 2.0
Description
Gilded Mount (LEIC-127138)
An Irish copper-alloy gilded mount found in Burton on the Wolds, Leicestershire
This mount is decorated with rope-like raised decoration, flanked by a plain raised edge. The centre of the mount is decorated with a raised ‘saltaire’ cross. Above and below this cross are semi-circular projections which form the upper part of human face masks which face each other. The remainder of the upper surface is filled with loose ‘chip carved’ interlace. The whole upper surface has patches of gilding, suggesting it originally covered the whole surface. It is possible that it made its way to England prior to Viking incursions but it is equally likely that the Vikings brought this brooch with them as plunder after raiding various areas in Ireland.
