File:Decorative mount br Illustrated by br Dom Andrews (FindID 80920).jpg

English: Early-medieval mount made from gilded copper alloy, in the shape of a flat cross with short arms; in the centre is a circle with a design of four spirals. Each arm is short and rectangular-ended before stepping down to a flatter, almost triangular terminal. The edges of the rectangular areas of each cross-arm are emphasized by a groove, perhaps made up of tiny individual punchmarks or a rocked tracer; the end of each arm is decorated with a row of three punchmarks. These punchmarks consist of a central circle or annulet with three radiating transversely ribbed lines, a stamp-type which is known from several other pieces of early Anglo-Saxon metalwork, for example a horse-harness mount from Carlton, Bedfordshire (BH-91B8D6), and the great square-headed brooch from Great Chesterford grave 2B (Evison 1994, fig. 15); also see Ager 1985 (ASSAH 4), fig. 15, esp. stamp 76, and compare a three-armed and a four-armed stamp on cremation pottery from Spong Hill, stamp-group 7/12 (Hills et al 1987, 3-5)

The triangular terminals are now of slightly different shapes, but the best-preserved has upright ends, then a concave curve to a convex apex (resembling a cocked-hat sword-pommel in shape) and the other three may be worn and damaged variants of this. There are circular holes through the three more worn arms, the lowest of which cuts through the central punchmark; these holes may therefore be secondary, although there is no trace of any previous means of attachment. The arms retain most of their gilding.

The central circular motif consists of a bold raised flat-topped border, with has lost any gilding it may once have had; then a broad groove within this; and, in the centre, a raised area with a relief pattern of four stems each ending in a curve or spiral. Each spiral turns anti-clockwise, forming a swastika-like pattern. This central decoration retains all its gilding, now a mid brownish-red colour.

Much of the obverse (c. 80%) retains its original gilding; the reverse is not gilded. On the reverse there is a short blunt spike in the centre, with a roughly circular area of darker patina around. The unperforated arm is noticeably more corroded on the reverse than the rest of the mount. The whole object is gently curved in one plane, from side to side when the unperforated arm is held at the top.

This object is notably similar to SUSS-3BB4A8.

Tania Dickinson has seen an image of this object, and suggests that it is likely to be a mount from horse harness. The gently curved profile would suit a function as a strap-junction, and although these usually have integrally cast rivets, the holes on three of the arms may be replacements. The circular stain round the central rivet might reflect a lost washer. The use of stamps goes well with the late-Antique derived spiral design in the central button, similar to the designs on late 5th century small saucer brooches, Scandinavian relief brooches and clasp buttons (e.g. Hines 1993, fig. 27b). The raised centre and the slightly lower rivet-tabs to the arms can be compared with the Style I decorated mount from Helgö, Sweden (Holmqvist, W. (ed.), Excavations at Helgö I, Stockholm 1961, 115. No. 536, pl. 27,1).