Anglo Saxon Gold Pendant

Code: 10650

This is a nice Saxon period gold pendant, dating to the 7th - 9th century A.D. It is made from three concentric rings of twisted cabled wires, intricately laid to give a barley spikelet design. The pendant retains the original hoop, decorated with a simplified linear ornament. This type of pendant is usually found on Saxon necklaces with graduating sized amulets/pendants (mainly belonging to elite females). The centre of the pendant would have once held a garnet gemstone. The closest parallel to this pendant comes from excavations at Bamburgh Castle, (NCL-AEF777). This example is intact, though the gem is missing and the suspension loop flattened. The design is very bold, it gives me the impression of a rotating 'sun-wheel', with the granulation work as rays of light.

OBJECT: Pendant

CULTURE: Germanic Saxon

DATE: c. 7th - 9th century A.D.

MATERIAL: Gold 

SIZE: 14mm x 10mm x 1mm

WEIGHT: 0.9 grams

PROVENANCE: Formerly part of a European private collection