Category:Northamptonshire sword pommel (NARC-1C1272)

Description: A complete silver and gold Sword Pommel of Early-Medieval date (AD 900-1120). The object is of Petersen type O. The pommel is composed of five lobes, which decrease in width and height from the tallest in the centre. The lobes are square in plan at the base but taper in from the front and back to a rounded top. The lobes are joined at the rectangular base. The lobes are hollow with a thickness of the walls of the lobes varying between 4.21-2.92mm. The base is flat with a recessed lower portion and a central triangular or V shaped projection from the central portion of the base on both sides. The projection has three deeply incised chevrons on one face, and two on the other. From the underside of the base two circular sectioned iron spurs projecting from between the outermost and second lobe.

The pommel is extensively decorated, the outer aspects of the three central lobes have inlaid niello within sub-rectangular double lined panels, running from the curved upper edge, to the base of lobes on front and back faces. The motif within consisting of four triangular cells, with an incised curved lower border, around the upper rounded terminal with repeating punched dots on each of the four faces of the lobes.

Below and within the niello boarder, on the front and back faces of each lobe, is an incised design filled with niello, composed of a sub-triangular central panel which is flanked by two highly stylized birds' heads (see DUR-4EE08C for similar) or pelta-shaped motif.

The outer lobes are decorated with an outer incised niello motif, composed of a single line, sub-ovate panel on the front and back of each lobe. The upper portion of the lobes have incised triangular pattern with a double curved line between the front and back triangular cell.

At the apex is an incised sub-rectangular cell between the triangular cells on all lobes.   

Between each of the lobes is a strand of beaded wire flanked by shorter lengths of repeating oblique beaded wire. This terminates at the base.

Each of the lobes has a sheet of decorated gold, centrally toward the base of each lobe, inset within a sub-rectangular undulating panel on both faces of the object. The outer lobes panels are sub-ovate.

The three central lobe inset sheets are decorated with a fine gold beaded wire in a basket-hatching style interspersed with gold pellets.

The two outer lobe sheets are decorated with a central pellet and a spiral circle of fine beaded wire. There is a second pellet in the upper portion of all but one of the outer lobe panels.

Discussion: Compare KENT-0AB911 which notes that: "this form is a wider form of Oakeshotts (1991) type M lobated Viking form, in the same group as sword types X11.10 - X11.14 dating from around 1050-1120, this would [fit] Petersen's (1919, 104) type O for a similar period. This form is considered to be of English origin (Davidson 1962, 55-6), but is called "Viking" and "of late Viking style" by Oakeshott (1991, 78 and 81)." Compare also DENO-E9650B, PUBLIC-415955 and SWYOR-D28921.

Dimensions: Height: 36.96mm, Width: 74.84mm, Thickness: 19.51mm, Weight: 133.6g

References: Petersen, J. (1919). De Norske Vikingesverd. En typologisk-kronologisk studie over vikingetidens vaaben.